18) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19) For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart.”
20) Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22) For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23) but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25) For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Last summer, I told my 3-year-old nephew that I had a surprise for him and took him on a walk to the park. He didn’t know where we were going and the whole way there he kept asking, “For me?” I told him over and over, “Yes, Keaton, this surprise is for YOU!” It’s as if he couldn’t believe I would do such a thing for him. Have you ever received a gift you didn’t think you deserved? It could have been something expensive, or something that required a lot of time and effort—or even the gift of true friendship. It is both humbling and a bit confusing to accept such generosity. For some, it may be tempting to look at the cross of Christ as a foolish sacrifice for us undeserving sinners. But when you come to the breathtaking realization of how infinite God’s love really is, the cross is a given. God’s love IS for you. The cross IS for you. God wouldn’t have it any other way.
God of love, place in our hearts the faith to believe in the great gift of your love and grace in Jesus’ name. Amen.
~ Lent Devotional, Luther Seminary
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