ESOCS Devotional 2 February 2021
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26–2:5
MEMORY VERSE: “That no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Corinthians 1:29
The RSV and NIV render it thus, respectively: “So that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (RSV); “So that no one may boast before Him” (NIV).
Some were called from their fishing occupation, some from under a tree, and a Tax collector. Among the twelve apostles, we do not read of any aristocrat, any elite or influential men in the society, no member of the Sanhedrin- no theologian, no prophet, no philosopher. They were all from very humble background, ordinary men, common men, and peasants. Such were those that the Lord called to be apostles. Paul gives us the reasons for this kind of choice: “that no man should boast”. These men having been with Jesus in the three years of His earthly ministry began to work miracles up to the point of raising the dead. They preached the gospel with power and unparalleled theological exposition and historical analysis, so that the people recognized them, that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).
Our generation is not any different from theirs in this respect. Look especially at ESOCS and other indigenous churches. We cater mostly for the down trodden and oppressed. Our membership is drawn largely from men and women who came with one spiritual challenge or the other, and having found solution in Christ were converted into the faith. Of the few elites among us, not many were in that class before joining the church. Spiritually, we do not have a seminary, yet there are prophets, teachers and preachers of renown whom the Lord has raised up in the church. Boasting is definitely excluded. You may only boast of what you got by your own power, not of what you received, for “if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it” (1 Cor. 4:7).
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Neither your exalted position nor wealth, education nor talent, or spiritual powers should call for any boasting; for they are all gifts from God who will not share His glory with anybody. Put bluntly, neither your calling as a visioner nor miracle worker calls for any boasting, unless it is not a gift from God. The most prized calling we have is the call to salvation; it is full and free, purely a gift from God, without any input or merit on our part. Our only contribution is “Faith” (Believing); but even that is also a gift. The Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). You are what you are by grace; you have what you have by grace; therefore, get rid of boasting.
CHALLENGES
What in your opinion are the reasons why people boast?
PRAYER POINT
Pray God to give you a humble and a contrite heart, for He will not despise such. Pray that He will teach you to humble yourself before Him and all men.
FURTHER READING: Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:27; James 2:5
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ESOCS Devotional 2 February 2021
