Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures
of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer. Coneys are
creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags. Locusts have
no king, yet they advance together in ranks. A lizard can be caught with the
hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces. ~Proverbs 30:25-28
God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things, And the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. 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 him who boasts boast in the Lord!” ~1 Corinthians 1:27-31
Ants and locusts show their wisdom through the power of community. Conies and lizards demonstrate their wisdom through the power of tenacity. All four are small, but they are determined not to let their size be the determining factor for success.
The last thing any Pharisee of Jesus’ day would have ever expected was to be preached to by a fisherman. Yet, there was Peter, not backing down; knowing what He knew and could not be bullied or persuaded into silence. His life didn’t matter. He knew Jesus. He knew that Jesus was alive! He knew that Jesus had conquered death and He knew that this same Jesus had forgiven Him. No show of force was going to take away what Peter knew, and that was that!
To them, Peter was a little thing, but not to God, who used Peter mightily. Peter refused to let his lack of a respectable education be a factor in determining success. “God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong.” To the world we may be insignificant. Our church is small, our members are not the movers and shakers of society, but that isn’t what God requires to determine success. A collective, obedient heart that is determined not to be thwarted by the seen powers around us is all He needs to accomplish what He determines is successful.
We are called to be a people of prayer, not just by ourselves, but communally. We are called to be in His Word, not just communally, but in our homes. We are called to serve both as individuals and community. We need community and tenacity in the things that we are called to. These are the factors that will determine our success. Size has nothing to do with it.
Strength is insignificant since He will provide all the strength we need when we are serving Him rightly. The Spirit and knowledge that made Peter bold is also in us! “Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord!” He will make our smallness matter so that Solomon could have said: “five things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise.” That fifth thing just might be us, if we do not give up, though assailed on every side, because we depend upon the power of God, through the cross, within us.
Prayer: Father God, I am not afraid to be small. I walk with a big God! I am not afraid to play my part in the mission and give the gifts I have to the cause of Christ, because it is the cause of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Little Is Much When God Is In It
God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things, And the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. 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 him who boasts boast in the Lord!” ~1 Corinthians 1:27-31
Ants and locusts show their wisdom through the power of community. Conies and lizards demonstrate their wisdom through the power of tenacity. All four are small, but they are determined not to let their size be the determining factor for success.
The last thing any Pharisee of Jesus’ day would have ever expected was to be preached to by a fisherman. Yet, there was Peter, not backing down; knowing what He knew and could not be bullied or persuaded into silence. His life didn’t matter. He knew Jesus. He knew that Jesus was alive! He knew that Jesus had conquered death and He knew that this same Jesus had forgiven Him. No show of force was going to take away what Peter knew, and that was that!
To them, Peter was a little thing, but not to God, who used Peter mightily. Peter refused to let his lack of a respectable education be a factor in determining success. “God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong.” To the world we may be insignificant. Our church is small, our members are not the movers and shakers of society, but that isn’t what God requires to determine success. A collective, obedient heart that is determined not to be thwarted by the seen powers around us is all He needs to accomplish what He determines is successful.
We are called to be a people of prayer, not just by ourselves, but communally. We are called to be in His Word, not just communally, but in our homes. We are called to serve both as individuals and community. We need community and tenacity in the things that we are called to. These are the factors that will determine our success. Size has nothing to do with it.
Strength is insignificant since He will provide all the strength we need when we are serving Him rightly. The Spirit and knowledge that made Peter bold is also in us! “Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord!” He will make our smallness matter so that Solomon could have said: “five things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise.” That fifth thing just might be us, if we do not give up, though assailed on every side, because we depend upon the power of God, through the cross, within us.
Prayer: Father God, I am not afraid to be small. I walk with a big God! I am not afraid to play my part in the mission and give the gifts I have to the cause of Christ, because it is the cause of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Little Is Much When God Is In It
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