God Chooses the Despised

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, 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

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV

Why do you suppose that God chooses people who the world deems as less or as not amounting to much or as unimportant to do his bidding? I believe it is because they are people who are more easily moldable into the image of Christ, who are more teachable, more committed to the Lord and to his service, and who are more willing to “take the hits” for speaking the truth that people need to hear than would be anyone of self-importance who thinks he knows everything and who wants the acceptance of other people.

I mean, who did he choose to be his disciples? Noblemen? No! Men of importance in the community? No! I don’t think so, anyway. He chose fishermen and at least one tax collector and others who we don’t know what their professions were. So these were not people of notoriety, fame, and fortune. They were just ordinary people, but they were people who were willing to leave it all behind them in order to follow Jesus Christ with their lives. They gave it all up to follow Jesus and to be his disciples.

Now, we do know that at the end of Jesus’ ministry that one of his disciples betrayed him to death, and another denied him three times, and all deserted him when he was placed under arrest, but all but the one (the one who betrayed him) returned to him after he was resurrected from the dead, and some or all of them went on to be the Lord’s servants and messengers to take the truth of the gospel to the people of the world, including to the Gentiles who had not been previously included among God’s people.

Another reason, I believe, that God chooses people the world and even the worldly church deems not worth their time is because these people realize that what they have comes from God and not from themselves, and so they give God the glory for what he does in and through him for his glory. And people who are used be being left out and ignored and not regarded as worthy of the affections of others are more likely to stay the course when they come up against all sorts of opposition and persecution.

Now, these are my thoughts on this subject, and you may have other ideas as to why God chooses those who are lowly and despised and disregarded by the world, including by the worldly church. But from my experience, I have found that those who have gone through hardships and persecutions and difficulties see more their need of God than perhaps those do who have had life fairly easy and who have always been well liked. And those who have suffered much are more likely to endure unjust suffering for Christ, too.

But this is not a doctrinal statement on this matter. This is just my perception based off of my own observations. But I do believe that it fits with what this is teaching. And then God uses those who are despised and rejected by others to shame those who thought they knew everything or that they could chart their own course without God’s help. For they must be humbled, we all must be, for us to come to the place of full submission to Christ as Lord in order to walk in obedience to his commands.

So, some he humbles beforehand so that they might be used of God in order for God to humble others who need to be humbled, too. But if God is going to use us in his service to be his ministers and to spread the truth of the gospel to the people of this world, we must be surrendered to the Lord, and we must be listening to him, and we must be willing to do and to say what he leads us to do and to say, all within his perfect will, even if we get hated, misunderstood, accused falsely and rejected in return.

For not everyone is in tune to hear the Spirit speak God’s truths to our hearts. Those who are still living by the flesh, and not by the Spirit, do not accept the things of God which are spiritually discerned. And many are following after the traditions of man, and the theologies of denominations, and after their culture, and/or they are listening to wolves in sheep’s clothing and they are not testing what they are hearing against the Scriptures, in context. So not everyone is going to receive the truth.

So, who defines truth? God does! His Word does! And, yes, some passages of Scripture, at least in their various translations, can be difficult to understand their meaning, and thus there are multitudes of opinions on what various Scriptures are teaching. But I believe that if we are sincere in wanting to know the truth of God’s word, because we are true followers of Christ, that he is going to show us the truth of what really matters for us, such as the truth of the Gospel, which is essential that we understand.

But regarding the essentials, I believe the Scriptures are very clear, if we are willing to hear what the Spirit wants to show us. But so many people put their hands over their ears and they refuse to listen to the truth that is irrefutable if we will just take the time to go through the Scriptures with open hearts and minds, willing to hear what the Lord wants to teach us, and willing to even have some of our own preconceived notions changed, if need be, because we had something wrong. I had to relearn lots of things.

So, the encouragement here today is to always be open to the Lord showing you where you might have something wrong (all of us included), and where you need to change your beliefs or way of thinking. For the ones he can use are those who will listen, and who will change, when needed, and who will follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in doing what God has called them to do, even if it results in being hated, rejected, falsely accused, and persecuted. For we must all be willing to die for the sake of following Jesus Christ.

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer 

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897

Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,

Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg 

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