Peter Misselbrook's Blog
Apr 1 2020 - 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 – The foolishness and weakness of God

Paul is writing to a church arguing over who was the better preacher; was it Paul or was it Apollos? Who had the greater power of rhetoric? He is writing to a church divided over who among them was the more spiritual; who had the better or deeper understanding of spiritual truths? Paul condemns such arguments as worldly; they are inconsistent with all that God has revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The gospel of Christ crucified turns the values of this world upside down. Paul says that Jews seek signs and Greeks seek wisdom. Jews looked for some great act of power by which God would overturn the human powers that had oppressed the Jewish people and would set them free – as had happened when God had rescued them from Egypt through Moses. Greeks loved philosophy and looked for some new system of teaching that would capture their attention – teaching proclaimed in wise and persuasive words. The gospel message about a crucified Messiah satisfied neither party. It appeared to show the weakness of God whose Son was crushed by the powers of this world. Its message appeared foolish to the Greeks, lacking in wisdom and being propagated by those lacking any great skill in oratory. To both parties, the gospel appeared to display the foolishness and weakness of God.

In reality, however, the gospel displays both the wisdom and power of God. The message concerning Christ crucified was accompanied by the powerful working of the Holy Spirit. Paul says of his preaching at Corinth, “I came to you in weakness and in fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God's power.” (1 Corinthians 2:3-5). The gospel displays the power of God who gives life to the dead. The gospel displays the wisdom of God because it is about Jesus Christ “who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1:30).

Paul calls these Christian brothers and sisters to take a reality check. Look at yourselves, he says, “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 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. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1:26-29). You have got nothing to boast of, nothing to be proud of, except this; God sent his Son from heaven to die for you. The Gospel is not about you; it’s about Christ crucified and raised from the dead.

We need to avoid the temptation to reshape the gospel to meet the expectations and demands of the world around us – whatever these might be. It’s not about acts of power, not about signs and wonders. It’s not about dynamic, charismatic and persuasive preachers. It’s about “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1:24). This message that turns human expectations upside down has power to turn the world upside down.

Father God, we stand amazed at all that you have done for us in the Lord Jesus; you have loved us,  you have saved us and you are at work among us, in us and through us to transform this proud and rebellious world. Humble us Lord; continue your transforming work in us. Remind us continually of what we were when we were called that our confidence and hope may not rest in ourselves but only in Christ our Saviour. May we be crucified with him to all that this world holds dear that we may live and work with him in the power of his Spirit for the transformation of our world to the glory of Christ.

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Apr 1 2019 - Joshua 5:13-6:25 – The fall of Jericho

Joshua has been called to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. It's a large task and he is conscious that the Israelites will face violent opposition from the inhabitants of the land. He was near Jericho, contemplating the difficult task when he looked up and saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. He asked the obvious question; "Whose side are you on? Are you on our side or that of our enemies?"

The answer is surprising; "Neither. I have come as the commander of the Lord's armies." Joshua had to learn that he cannot claim that God is on his side. God does not take sides. God has his own plan and his own agenda. The key question for Joshua is not whose side this warrior is on, but whose side he is on. He will only succeed in the task given him if he submits to God's plan and is subject to the commander of the Lord's army.

This is a hard lesson to learn. Nations constantly claim that God is on their side. Sometimes opposing armies in battle will both claim God as their patron and will seek to ensure his blessing through the words and prayers of bishops or other religious dignitaries. God does not ally himself to human conflicts. He is intent on establishing his own kingdom and calls us to be allied to his agenda and his purposes. Civil religion is the construction of a false god; it is idolatry.

But such errors are not confined to nations as they seek to baptise their own empire-building; the same errors abound among Christians. Churches develop their own programmes and schemes and claim, or hope, God will lend them his support. But God calls us to submit to him not dictate to him.

As individuals we can fall into the same error. We feed our own ambitions and carefully construct our plans and schemes and pray that God will come and bless them. Again, we need to learn to discern the Lord's calling and to follow him rather than demanding his blessing on our schemes.

The Israelites can invade and possess this land of fierce people and fortified cities only by aligning themselves with God's plan. At God's command, the army of Israel marched around the city of Jericho with the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant – the symbol of God's enthroned presence with his people. On six successive days they marched once around the city with the inhabitants watching from the walls. On the seventh day they marched around seven times and then, with a blast of trumpets and a triumphant roar from the army, the walls of Jericho came tumbling down.

The conquest of Canaan points forward to the day of Christ's return, the Day of Judgment. On that day the kingdom of this world will become the kingdom of God and of his Christ and he will reign for ever. On that day, all evil and evildoers will be banished as God creates a new society where he will live with his people in a kingdom of righteousness and peace.

Father God, help me to read your word carefully and prayerfully that I may not use it to justify my own schemes but to learn more of your saving purposes. Jesus, I call you Lord. Help me always to acknowledge that you are my Lord and I am your disciple. Teach me what it means to submit to you in all the practical details of my life. Help me to fall in behind you and follow you closely rather than seeking to take the lead and hoping you will follow. Make my heart more like your heart – you do not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Increase my longing for that day when you will make all things new, when this world will be the world you truly want it to be.

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Peter Misselbrook