As I prayed and talked to students today dreaming of starting something new and reaching more students at CU of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds I was both encouraged and discouraged.
And I longed to hear from God in the midst of it. Then I looked back at what we had read this morning in 1 Corinthians 1.
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Preaching at CU often seems like foolishness but I have to remember to many it is foolishness but to those who will believe it is the power of God. And some will believe at CU. The gospel needs to be preached there at a place where freedom, pleasure, success, tolerance, moral relativism and general spiritualism (basically believe and do whatever you want) dominates. God help me to believe the harvest is plentiful. God teach me to preach the gospel and invite people to respond again and again with hope and not discouragement. God please confirm your gospel with a demonstration of your Spirit's Power.
God I long for students at CU to come to follow Jesus the way the truth and the life to you. I long for more Asian American students, a new thing with latino students, an exponential growth with international students, a transformation of the gospel reaching South Asian students, native students and black students. God send me and others to them especially the ones who aren't being reached who are alone and ignored at CU. Help me find them, help me love them, raise up leaders amongst them to reach even more than I could ever reach. Please Lord show me where to start. Latino, International, Greek, a renewed emphasis on intentionally reaching Asian American students?
God I feel weak and small and inadequate. But you seem to choose the lowly things of the world the people who feel small. So if you want use me, if not don't use me.
1 Corinthians 1
6 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 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. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[d]
Amen
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