Meditation
“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” I Corinthians 1:24
What a difference!
The Jew wanted a sign. He wanted a sign of power. A sign in heaven or a sign upon the earth would make him happy. A glorious display of divine power would be convincing to him.
The Greek wanted wisdom. He desired some teaching that would be enlightening to him. He wanted some philosophy to make him happy in his soul. He would find significant a doctrine that would give him harmony and peace for this life and perhaps the next.
Those were the reasons the Jew and the Greek despised Christ. Christ crucified they disdained. To hear of a man crucified and slain. What kind of sign is that? What kind of wisdom is that?
So must all the world, Jew and Greek, turn from Christ crucified. So must all the world turn from the preaching of Christ crucified. So must the Jew continue looking for a sign, the Greek for wisdom.
Then there are some other Jews.
Then there are some other Greeks.
How different is their knowledge!
They see. They understand.
These Jews see Christ the power of God. These Greeks understand Christ the wisdom of God.
They see, and they believe. They understand and they rest. They find in Christ all the power of God they need. Possessing Christ, they have all the wisdom of God.
There is nothing more they need. Nothing more they need to seek and find. Nothing more they need to do. All power and all wisdom they have found.
What a difference!
That difference is all from God. He is the God that calls.
He calls according to His decree of sovereign, unconditional election.
He calls by grace sovereign and effectual. His call is from darkness to light. His call is from awful blindness to true light.
Do you see Christ the power of God? Do you see Christ the wisdom of God? Having Him, do you have all? Having Him, do you have His rest, His full salvation?
That difference is not of yourself. Your eyes you have not opened. You did not make your heart understand.
The difference is of God alone. He alone has called you. He alone has chosen you.
Give Him alone thanksgiving and praise! Give Him alone all glory!
What a difference!
The Jew wanted a sign. He wanted a sign of power. A sign in heaven or a sign upon the earth would make him happy. A glorious display of divine power would be convincing to him.
The Greek wanted wisdom. He desired some teaching that would be enlightening to him. He wanted some philosophy to make him happy in his soul. He would find significant a doctrine that would give him harmony and peace for this life and perhaps the next.
Those were the reasons the Jew and the Greek despised Christ. Christ crucified they disdained. To hear of a man crucified and slain. What kind of sign is that? What kind of wisdom is that?
So must all the world, Jew and Greek, turn from Christ crucified. So must all the world turn from the preaching of Christ crucified. So must the Jew continue looking for a sign, the Greek for wisdom.
Then there are some other Jews.
Then there are some other Greeks.
How different is their knowledge!
They see. They understand.
These Jews see Christ the power of God. These Greeks understand Christ the wisdom of God.
They see, and they believe. They understand and they rest. They find in Christ all the power of God they need. Possessing Christ, they have all the wisdom of God.
There is nothing more they need. Nothing more they need to seek and find. Nothing more they need to do. All power and all wisdom they have found.
What a difference!
That difference is all from God. He is the God that calls.
He calls according to His decree of sovereign, unconditional election.
He calls by grace sovereign and effectual. His call is from darkness to light. His call is from awful blindness to true light.
Do you see Christ the power of God? Do you see Christ the wisdom of God? Having Him, do you have all? Having Him, do you have His rest, His full salvation?
That difference is not of yourself. Your eyes you have not opened. You did not make your heart understand.
The difference is of God alone. He alone has called you. He alone has chosen you.
Give Him alone thanksgiving and praise! Give Him alone all glory!