Not Many Wise

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

I Corinthians 1:26-29

The redeemed have nothing of which to boast with regard to their natural abilities. Paul has been speaking of the unbelievers in the world and how they view the gospel, as well as those who believe the gospel. They view believers as gullible fools. Paul speaks in our text of those whom God has chosen. He identifies us as foolish, weak, base, and despised. He says we ‘are not,’ that is, nothings and nobodies. The reason is ‘that no flesh should glory in His presence.’ If God spoke worlds into existence, created all things of nothing by the word of His power, it is not surprising that He chooses His redeemed from the least likely candidate pool in the world. God gets the glory for our redemption. Christ the Head, gets the glory for anything His Body accomplishes. We are what He has made us. We accomplish the things He intends. We do not glory in ourselves. As the psalmist wrote, ‘Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Your Name give glory, for Your mercy and for Your truth’s sake.’ Christ is worthy of all the glory. Every true spiritual victory the people of God have ever won is due to Christ. He is the One Who takes nothings and nobodies and makes us the heirs of grace.

Glorious, Living God,
we rejoice that You have made us the heirs of grace.
We praise You that we may glorify You
now and forever.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning