Christ, the Power of God

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
    and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. ( I Corinthians 1)

At first thought, when we hear the power of Christ, we might think of Jesus calming the storm, casting out demons, or raising the dead.  Rightfully so. But Paul takes us further, deeper and more personal. Christ's power is God at work in our minds and hearts, giving us power over the wisdom of this world.  The scariest storms we face will not be on a ship, but the roller coaster of daily life. The demons who confront us will not come looking like zombies, but attacking within to get us to doubt and be distracted from what really matters. The death we need concern ourselves with is not the giving up of the body, but dividing us from the Spirit of God.  Yes, Christ is powerful over all these things.  We who know him understand this, while those who surround us may not. May His power and wisdom shine through so they can find it too.