Week:05, Season:1,
2014
Posted on Saturday by PCT
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The True Peace
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Scripture:《
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
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1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness 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; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.
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There are many parts of our lives that we cannot plan or predict. Every July in Taiwan, most of the folk temples hold the Chungyuan Festival1. July happens to be the month when there is often a typhoon but even when a typhoon strikes, people still hold the Chungyuan Festival as they are afraid to disregard dead people and without the Festival rites would not have peace of mind. Many places in Taiwan also have a myth in the Ghost Month that never give sacrifice to ghosts without names and homes because it will not bring peace of mind either. It is a pity that so many people do not know aboutJesus dying on the cross and have no peace of mind at all; instead they rely on offering the burnt money and making sacrifices to idols, rather like paying protection fees to exchange for peace of mind.
The wisdom of God
Paul told the Corinthian Church about the truth of the cross. He said that Jews or Greek, the free or the slave, all people who are saved by Christ belong to Christ; all who belong to Christ, belong to God and those who believe in the power of the cross are the saved ones and wise. Now we can understand the urgent statements by Paul in verse 20, “Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” Paul additionally wrote, “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” What is the wisdom of God? The wisdom of God is to follow the way of God and do what he commands us to do. By the cross, God breaks the forces separating people and this is the work of his wisdom.
Modern buildings are seen everywhere in Taiwan and make this small island to seem to be highly civilised. In the primary school textbook, students are still taught the concept of “man will conquer nature,” but in reality, nature still rules this world. We might have chance to conquer the nature by the hard work by our hands but we cannot always overcome the power of nature. Each year when it comes to the typhoon season, we see on the news hundreds of village homes have to be evacuated to avoid damage from landslides. So many people can lose their land, homes and properties in one night. As human beings we often rely on our own wisdom and think we can play God in his wisdom; but little do we know that the wisdom we have is only a very small percentage of God’s wisdom.
The wisdom of God is the centre of the Holy Bible. God calls us and gives us an obedient heart to understand that he is alpha and omega, the source of life. God’s work is revealed because human wisdom is limited. When we face our own sins and want to be born again with God, we turn out to be powerless. God’s strength is revealed because of human weakness. A fool and a wise man cannot all achieve what has done by God on the cross.
The power of God
The wisdom of God is the proclamation of gospel and the presence of the cross. The gospel contains the wisdom and power of God. The power of God saves everyone and the saved become Jesus’ followers. “Salvation” has a meaning of free from death and illness and becoming safe and redeemed. The saved ones are those who trust in God fully and are redeemed by the power of God.
On the 11th of August last year, a group of Christians from Qimei (a rural township in Penghu County, Taiwan) witnessed the power of God. Even though in their life experience and faith journey, many trials have come to challenge them, by the power of God they have made the impossible in life possible. One sister shared her story that once when she attended church choir with her husband, the beautiful rhythm and meaningful lyrics touched their hearts and on that evening they decided to make theirs a Christian family. Since then, the sister worships and serves at church and brings her children to know God. She said, on her faith journey, she encountered many hurts and fell several times, but she never left God; instead, the word of God continues talking to her and comforting her. She learnt to pray for herself, her children and family; she learnt to trust in the Lord. Now she is preparing her Baptism course to become the child of God.
This sister also said that a while ago when she returned to her home town, she felt extraordinarily excited and found her mother church had become more beautiful! The colourful light hanging on the walls of the church was shining in the night as a significant sign. On the way home at midnight, she found the light was still shining like a guide instructing people home, to their spiritual home. It seemed that God was telling her, “Come home my child!” She gave thanks to God for listening to her prayers. On this journey home, she witnessed the promise of God which she received by faith.
Sign of the cross
The sign of the cross is the hope established through Jesus’ crucifixion. Many people have been blessed and saved through the wisdom and power of God. Through Paul’s letters we understand that we are chosen by God; we are foolish, weak, lowly, insignificant, and detestable. No one shall boast about his own achievements before God. Despite that the fact that we have many questions about our future, we have been chosen to be the children of God by his wisdom and power; therefore to become people who are wise, righteous, and pure and saved by Jesus Christ. This is the “love” action God made for humans; to choose us to be his children.
I remember that a few years ago before I did my military service, I was very worried that I would lose my faith during the military training because I did not feel courageous enough to proclaim my identity as a Christian. One Christmas Eve while I was serving in the army, I looked out of the camp and saw freedom and a cross standing tall on the top of the church roof. It was a great comfort to see the cross and it reminded me that the power of God and his decision to choose me as one of his people never changed. The sign of the cross also told me that the peace of the Lord was with me forever more.
The true peace is to understand the meaning of the cross and to witness the wisdom and the power of God. The true peace is to be willing to respond to God’s calling. The true peace is when we say “peace be with you” to one another, the salvation and blessing of the Lord is there with each of us. May Jesus Christ help us!
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For discussion:
1.Please share your thoughts about peace.
2.Please share your understanding of the cross.
Please pray for:
1.For families and friends who do not yet believe in God and feel his power. Pray for them to have the gift of becoming the children of God.<br/><br/>2.For the ability to understand the meaning of the cross and to be willing to take up the cross for Christ.<br/><br/>
Prayer:
Loving Father, thank you for making the cross a sign for us to follow Jesus. It is by your power thus we can become Christians. We are willing to respond to your calling and take the cross to follow you. May you guide us on the path of our life so we may have the peace, hope, joy and faith given by you. In the name of Christ. Amen.
Something you can do:
1.Spend time in a quiet space to be alongside God and meditate on the meaning of the cross for you.
2.Give out gospel journals such as Keng Sing on the street with church brothers and sisters and say to the strangers, “Peace! This booklet is for you and God bless you!”
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