That No Flesh Should Glory #644

26  For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28  and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29  that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–29, NKJV)

God’s choices are unlike those initiated by human wisdom and expectations. Yielding to the temptations of pride and conceit prevents many from humbly believing and obeying the word of the cross (1 Cor. 1:18). Those consumed by worldly wisdom consider the gospel as “foolish things”. Those driven by power see the gospel as filled with “weak things”.  How people assess the gospel does not diminish its wisdom or destroy its power. To those who hear and heed God’s call, the gospel continues to be God’s power and wisdom (1 Cor. 1:24). God has chosen things that are opposite of human wisdom and preference in order to turn our attention to His wisdom, greatness and grandeur. We must never boast before God, but always humble ourselves in dutiful and submission obedience to His will.

The Express Image of God #643

…who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high… (Hebrews 1:3, NKJV)

Jesus told His apostle Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jno. 14:9). And so, we look at Jesus in order to understand God. The Son of God reveals the brilliance of God’s glory by His every word and deed. Jesus is the  impress of God’s real nature; the express image of who God really is. This does not refer to His physical features, for “God is Spirit” (Jno. 4:24). Jesus is the impress of the mind, the character, the will and the purposes of God. “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (Jno. 1:18). In order to hear and know God you must listen to the word of Christ and follow Him (Heb. 1:1-2; Matt. 11:28-30; Eph. 4:20-24).