It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 1 Corinthians 1:30-2:1 NIV
God is…
The Source. It is because of God that I am in Christ Jesus. It strikes me that I often think about this the other way around. That is, that I am a friend of God because of Christ Jesus. I love this other side of the equation. It shines such light on the equality and reciprocal relationships within the Trinity of God. Both statements are true. Jesus comes from God, yet Jesus is also both the beginning and the end.
The Gift. God sent Jesus Christ, who is also equally God and is one with God. God is both giver and gift. God gave us Himself. It does seem to me that the best gift I can give God is also myself.
Wisdom. I love that God’s wisdom is righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Isn’t that the most hopeful thing ever! It’s like Paul was saying earlier. Wisdom from God looks foolish to people – because forgiving someone who ruined our lives does most definitely seem foolish some days. But wisdom is redemption. Redemption doesn’t happen without forgiveness – without someone paying the price that wasn’t at fault for the crime. Can an offender ever truly make up for what they have done without some forgiveness being involved? It seems to me that the breach of trust in the relationship needs forgiveness even in a case like robbery where technically the item stolen can be returned unharmed. Still, the victim must forgive the breach of trust. Wisdom from God is redemption not retribution. I am so grateful for that!
Therefore I am…
Righteous. God gave me Christ, who has made me righteous. He is righteousness. I have the mind of Christ, so I can think like Him (1 Corinthians 2:16). I have the gift of grace, so I can speak like God (1 Peter 4:10-11). I have the same power source as Christ, so I can do the same actions that He does (John 14:12-14). Yup! I am righteous; and because of all these things, I don’t have to be righteous in name only. I can bear the image of God well.
Holy. I am set apart by God. I love that the choosing that God does isn’t about who is in and who is out so much as it is about what is in store for me. As Romans 8:29 says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” I am set apart to become like Christ. That is pretty amazing stuff!
Redeemed. I am certainly glad that I am redeemed! That is the theme of this blog. When it was started so many years ago, it was so that when someone read it that over time they would see the transformation. It seems to me that the sweetest thing in the whole wide world is redemption. I don’t seek sweet revenge – not on anyone, no matter how badly they have hurt me. No! I seek sweet redemption. There is no better ending; there is no ending that evil hates worse than seeing victim and offender redeemed. Darkness hates to see even evil turned to good through redemption.
Comments