Lent 2018 Devotional: Day Seventeen

“Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” —1 Corinthians 3:18–19a

Much of the “wisdom” of this world does not reflect the fullness of the kingdom of God. The wisdom of the world tells us to amass as much wealth as possible, even at the expense of those who suffer as a result of our gain. The world’s wisdom would have us ignore the contributions of those society deems less than worthy to contribute: those who do not possess higher education; those with mental illness; the unemployed. It is foolish to stand with the disreputable: the poor; sexual minorities who are shamed for their difference. Yet standing with the least of these, even as our witness causes others to call us foolish from the standpoint of the world, is the life that Jesus calls us to.

Which disreputable people are you standing with? Are you having trouble living the gospel because you’re afraid to be called foolish?

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