1 CORINTHIANS 1:23

 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles…

TO PONDER 

It is a stumbling block! Many people don’t get it. A God who willingly sacrifices his own life…so we could live? That’s madness, isn’t it?

Of course, it is, but that’s the crux of the Christian faith. That’s the upside-down message of our belief. That’s the heavenly outcome for our earthly lives.   

It is crazy. It doesn’t make sense. It goes against all human thinking. So how do we get people to understand it? We can’t…by ourselves. And in fact, there’s plenty of things about the Christian faith I don’t understand…but then that’s why we have faith! Just let God do the God-things, and we can live our faith by how we connect with people, and build relationships, and become friends with non-Christians – and then when the time is right, let them know about the trust we have in this unusual God. Sounds easy enough – but it can be very difficult.       

PRAYER:For the grace you show us Lord, thanks. For the patience you have with us Lord, thanks. For letting us return to you again and again, thanks. For giving us faith at our baptism, thanks. Help us to share all of that with others. Amen   

Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping.