Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Note to readers: This is an alternate reading from the Three Year Lectionary, and may not match up with the readings your church uses this Sunday.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 – 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. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 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. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
If there’s one thing I can count on with God, it’s that I turn out to be wrong about stuff, all the time. I look at the past, and I think I know what He’s doing In my life—and then things take a sharp left turn, and I’m confused again. I thought He was doing X, and I built my plans around that—and it turns out He was doing Y, and I’m back to start again.
After so many years, I’m starting (finally!) to get used to it. Because I’m not going to change Him, after all; and it’s a lot more interesting to live with a God who’s smarter than I am and far more creative. The answers He comes up with are usually things I wouldn’t have imagined at all.
Take Jesus. Who would expect the most high God to humble Himself and come into our world as a tiny baby? A helpless baby—because He was completely dependent on Mary to eat and breathe and carry Him during the nine months of her pregnancy, and then on Mary and Joseph both to protect and keep Him during His childhood—which included living as a refugee in Egypt. Why did God risk it all that way? He’s just like that.
And then His ministry—and His self-chosen suffering and death on the cross. Why should the holy, immortal God choose to carry our sin and shame into death for our sakes? And yet He did. And the resurrection, which broke the power of death over everyone who believes in Jesus, forever—because we cannot be separated from Him, if He lives (and He does), then we, too, will live with Him forever. He has chosen to tie Himself to us for all eternity—not just as our Savior but as our close relative—for He has not given up His human nature.
Paul is right to be amazed: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?” … For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen (Romans 11:33-34, 36).
WE PRAY: Lord, what You have done for me amazes me. Thank You! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions: