Boast in the Lord

​“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, and not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31, ESV).

I graduated from high school at the bottom of my class. I don’t come from a prestigious family. I’m not a genius. I’m not charming. I’m not special. I don’t have any outstanding gifts that draw attention to myself. One thing I am, is a sinner! God chose me; a nobody by worldly standards, and it’s in the Lord where I can boast.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, chapter 1: vv. 26-31, he pointed out the fact that most of those who were chosen by God in Corinth, weren’t part of any special class of people. As I was studying these verses I was encouraged by it because I “considered my calling “(v.26). For many people who knew me before I was converted, probably saw me as a jokester, not that bright, no ambition. I didn’t take high school or anything else seriously until it was too late. I was rarely well behaved and somewhat of a bully. Consequently, I was not a candidate for “success”. I was headed for prison or the streets. None of this was anyone else’s fault but my own.
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God chose what was weak in the world, a wretched sinner like me, to show that change doesn’t happen through human wisdom or some self-help strategy, but by grace through faith in the crucified Christ. The preaching of the cross, is to the world foolishness, but it shows God’s wisdom. God called me out of my foolishness by grace. So I can only boast in God and his grace. It’s a simple message (the Gospel) but it’s the wisdom of God to save sinners and a wretch like me; from ourselves.