I can remember Sundays when I would be seated at the piano ready to lead worship. I believed God had given me the plan for the morning – helped me to choose the songs and scriptures that would open our hearts and minds to His presence and His word. Then I would notice someone come in through the doors that I didn’t know. Suddenly I felt shy, nervous, even anxious. What if they thought we were fanatics? What if they thought the words to the songs were hard to understand? What if they considered me foolish – without talent?
The message about the cross doesn't make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God's power at work. – 1 Corinthians 1:18 (CEV)
I would be reminded many times of this scripture. So what if they thought I was foolish? I was giving what talent I had to Jesus for His use and for His glory – not for my own. The attention wasn’t on me it was on Him.
Isn’t it silly what we allow Satan to use to defeat us? And isn’t it comforting when we sense the Holy Spirit say, “It’s alright. I’m here. Keep on. Look into my eyes.” The cross is foolishness and makes no sense until you’ve experienced the love, grace, and mercy that flow from the cross.
I’m called to deny myself of pride – not a self-righteous false humility – but the pride of thinking I can do anything apart from Christ working in me. That’s how I want to live – not caring if the world thinks I’m foolish – not caring if lost people don’t understand. I want to live in the power of the Cross. And when I live in that power my interaction with the lost will be different. It will be full of compassion and mercy and care. I won’t be defensive about my faith. I won’t try to defend Jesus. I will let the Holy Spirit use me and do His work – work that I can never accomplish on my own.
“Father, today help us to live in the power of the Cross. It is your gift of abundant life to us. Amen”
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