SELAH Daily Devotions!
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved; it is the power of God…for after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God; it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1Corinthians 1:17-18, 20
Granted, in this New Millennium Church Age, there are those who challenge the relevancy and even the validity of ‘The preaching of the Cross’! After all, we have so much going on, so much information available to us, so much to accomplish and so little time, right?
Well, guess what? Contrary to contemporary pop culture,God knew before we knew how long and how far mankind would go to avoid accountability!
According to 2 Timothy 4:3, ‘For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts.”
In other words, the focus would no longer be how to live a holy and sanctified life, in this present world, but folk would religiously come to church to scratch an itch, you know, to satisfy their hunger for more and some more of the WORLD’S creature comforts. Of course they’d use a more palatable vernacular, such as, “Give me a ‘word’ that will tell me how I can supersize my life!” Or perhaps, “I’ll give you a part of my ‘free day’ if you can make it worth my while; you know, cheer me up, make me feel good (bring on the hype)! “A’int nobody got time for foolishness!” And we’d certainly be remiss to ignore this one—“You can’t judge me, God knows My Heart!”
Like the ol’ skool Preacha said, “Guess I done lost half my Churrrch, nah; huh?”
I know we shouldn’t be shocked—but C’mon! This attitude prevailing amongst the household of faith? Yeah, I mean, we’re not talking about ‘dem worldly sinners’ we’re talking–’Church Folks’! Do you think that’s what the Scripture refers to as “having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” ?(Ref. 2 Timoth 3:5 #DON’TSHOUTMEDOWNNAH
But to those of us who yet truly believe in the Testimony of Jesus Christ and the Gospel message of that ol’ rugged cross, the preaching of the cross is NOT foolishness, but it is the POWER OF GOD to save the sinner man who will dare to believe that The Word of God is True.
QUITE frankly, it’s not really that hard to understand exactly why the Deceitful Destroyer works so diligently to keep humanity from The Truth. If we were in his position, we wouldn’t want this Good News on blast in mainstream social medias, either! #ijs!! Obviously!! The Bible says, if they only knew ‘They never would’ve crucified Christ’ in the first place. (1 Corinthians 2:8) Well guess what, devil… ‘You’re over 2000 years too late’!
Given the rapid decline of basic core values and the swelling demoralization of 21st Century society’s ‘new norms’ that’s taken place over the past fifty or so years, those of us who’ve been walking with the Lord for a while now, have come to the realization that the ONLY HOPE for sustaining any semblance of sanity (much less peace) admidst the certainty of massive uncertainties is a irrevokable determination that ‘COME WHAT MAY’, I WILL’ “Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart, and lean not to my own understanding but in all your ways, acknowledge HIM, and HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATH!” (Ref. Proverbs 3:5-6) #CANIGETAWITNESS??
TRUST2KNO, it’s not my intent to denigrate your personal right to choose the way you life your life, BUT rather to point out, it’s getting darker and darker out here and unfortunately it ain’t gonna get no better until HE CRACKS THE SKY! So it behooves each and everyone of us to think long and hard before we pass up this amazing offer!
To the weary wanderer, The Cross is the Place of Refuge! To the lost, The Cross is the Center of the Universe, where Eternity collided with Time and Mercy and Grace unashamedly kissed each other! To the unlovable and faint of heart, The Cross is The Power and Love of God openly revealed and freely offered in exchange for our rebellion against the Righteousness of a HOLY God! To the spiritually bankrupt, The Cross is the Place of Welcomed Surrender– where, you give Him your all, He Gives You His ALL!
To those who’re trapped in darkness, The Cross is where the Light of GOD’S Amazing Grace is still shining—beckoning us “before the day of gross darkness overtakes you—COME!”
OH YEAH! There’s always gonna be those who reject God’s gift of GRACE presented through THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING, HOWEVRRRR, THERE WILL BE A HIGH COST 4 LOW LIVING! So who’s the real fool?
SELAH!
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
Ann Caffee