1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (ESV)
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preachb to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Matthew 12:38 — 40 (ESV)
The Sign of Jonah
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
A demarcation is simply a line, boundary, limit, or standard by which we can distinguish between one thing and another. We make judgments about many things based on our demarcations. When we are speaking of geography, we focus on territory. In philosophical terms, it’s definitions, boundaries for discussions, and identifiers between logical and illogical propositions. In spiritual matters and theology, we emphasize the law, morality, and the choices sentient beings make in regards to the will of the Creator. We crave clarity, preciseness, and definitive outcomes. There is nothing wrong with this desire; in fact, it’s a good thing. God gave us minds that don’t operate well in confusion. The problem is not in our desire for clarity; the problem is our self-seeking clouds the ability to accurately discern the demarcations within and outside of us. Samuel was sent to look for the new king God would appoint over Israel. He carried within him a set of qualities that would distinguish between a good king and common folks. The prophet was corrected in the middle of his thoughts:
1 Samuel 16:7-8 (ESV)
6When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.” 7But theLORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
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Deceived by his own standards and expectations of a leader, God guided Samuel to a new standard, a revelation of His nature and flawless judgment. In short, God was saying, “The criteria you are using is flawed, sinful, and filled with error.” Today, He says the same. We have the audacity to define His work for us. Thoughts that follow His instructions in regards to our callings are typical:
- “God, it’s too little, too much, too insignificant.”
- “I can’t work with that prideful person.”
- “I will if… I will when…”
- “First off, this person needs to change for me to do your will God; He’s in the way.”
- “This group needs to change.”
- “I’m not comfortable anymore. I don’t like where this is going.”
Confusion and ignorance are common themes as well. “I don’t know my calling.” Another will say, “I don’t hear from God like that. I just do what the pastor tells me.” Well if that is true, who is at fault? God said, “My sheep know my voice.” We have to get familiar with that voice. If we are saved, the reason the voice is drowned out is, because we have been listening to too much of the noise and other voices out there. It is as if the Spirit is saying, “Enough of the excuses; get to work.” The truth is we hear — and in ways that God makes real to us; yet; we continue to change the demarcations in regards to how God should speak to us. Rather than focus on obedience, we move the lines of clarity back and forth. Caution regarding God’s instruction abounds: “How do we know this is God? We have to be careful?” Self intetest in the guise of ministry is common as well. Some say, “Well if I go in that direction, how will I have time to build my ministry?” Such statements reveal a man centered approach in the heart. (Folks we don’t have ministries. We are just called to obey God in the domains and callings He placed us in. They are His ministries, callings, and domains.) We are so occupied with our own stuff that we demand proof from God based on our demarcations before we consider change, so we want Him to speak louder, clearer, and more often — while we ignore Him each time. On it an on it goes. In a predicable manner when the Holy One does speak, we challenge the source and brush it off. Like the folks in the passages above, many of us choose ignorance rather than clear direction, so we can say — “I didn’t know.” Our deep seated self deception, hinders the work, plain and simple. By huddling with the confused masses of religious folks, we feel normal and safe.
My advice to you today is to get to work at seeking His face. Link up and sync up with people who are moving forward. You will see their fruit — if you want to. You will attribute their fruit to another source if you want to nurse your doubts, and you will stay stuck. Don’t compare your work or contribution to that of another. It’s emulation in a negative sense, and it leads to envy, discouragement, pride, or all of them in some form. Don’t tell God what you will, can, or won’t do. He designed you and knows best. It saddens me to think of the countless believers who have opted for a self centered approach to faith. This will lead to limited rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ, because they simply continued to hedge and counterbalance against simple obedience. They chose a mediocre approach to faith, minimized God, and opted for the grammar of faith without the power of it.