Let's get silly, shall we?

The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It’s written, I’ll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I’ll expose so-called experts as shams. So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn’t God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered stupid—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation. (I Corinthians 1:8)

Ever wonder why I take the time to record some thoughts on my scripture study each day? It is simple - God chose scripture to fill our lives with hope, direction, and even a little laughter from time to time. I rejoice in knowing I can turn to scripture whenever I want - some don't have this privilege. I delight in discovering some 'new' truth that encourages my soul. I cry at times because of the conviction it brings into the depths of my being. I even laugh when I consider the folly of those who would challenge a holy God and expect to stand up against his power. Yes, to some the gospel message seems a little antiquated or even a little silly, but to me it is the hope of my day. How about you? Does scripture uplift you? Do you find it brings you a little conviction from time to time? Then it is doing exactly what it is intended to do!

We could look into those books in the self-help sections of our bookstores and libraries, but I have to tell you I have tried doing what some of them have proposed and haven't been all that 'helped' by their 'wisdom'. Sure, I changed a little here and there, but by sheer will-power and certainly not by the grace of God! Self-help is just that - it is your 'flawed and imperfect self' attempting to pick up some of the pieces our lives are in and put them back together. If you ever heard the nursery rhyme about Humpty Dumpty and all the kings men trying to put him back again, then you have an apt picture of what it is like to attempt to use our earthly wisdom to accomplish what only the divine can complete! 

I think God is kind of cool at times when I see how he uses what others think is unusable to do something quite amazing right in the midst of a bunch of naysayers. I also think he is wise in his choice of vessel - choosing what others consider a 'cast-off' or 'worthless' object to bring great glory to his name. Why does God choose what others might consider a 'cast-off' for his purposes? Maybe it is their availability, or perhaps it is their simple trust in him because of what they already know they DON'T possess in themselves. God isn't asking us to take only the 'strong' or 'worthy' stuff in our lives and put it into his hands for his use - he also asks us to take what we might otherwise consider 'worthless' or as worthy nothing more than being a 'cast-off'. 

The beginning of all things begins by beginning. That isn't a profound truth, but stop for a moment to consider what you have never 'begun' because you didn't know where to 'begin'. What kept you from taking the first step toward it? You didn't realize WHERE to begin or WHAT to do once you did. That's where God's truths can be most helpful - where our 'self-help' plans end and his 'wisdom of the ages' comes into play in our lives. We don't possess all the wisdom, so to exclude God's wisdom from our lives by limiting ourselves to our 'self-help' plans is kind of silly. God uses what seems like silliness to some to bring out great things in another. Ever wonder why hearing someone explain what God has revealed to them from scripture helps you to actually take the first step? It is because of the 'silliness' of sharing his wisdom instead of just our own. Just sayin!