To God Be the Glory

INTRO: All the benefits of being a Christian are based on the foundational principle that God loves you. Not because of anything we have done, but just because He WANTS to. Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness was because He loves us. The greater suffering He endured later was because He loves us. He suffered. He died. Because He loves us. That seems a bit foolish, doesn’t it? He died for those who rejected Him? Maybe it shouldn’t surprise us, then, that the things WE believe and practice seem a bit foolish to those around us. I’ll admit it: the more change I see in our culture, the more I don’t fit in. At all.

1 Corinthians 1:27-31

Maybe this “not fitting in” thing is the way it is supposed to be.

When Christians don’t fit in...

Remember it is by design. v 27

In 2 Cor. 6, Paul makes a compelling case that we are to be separate from the world. Finding a balance between impacting culture and separating ourselves is key. Sadly, too often the church is impacted by culture!

When Christians don’t fit in, it is by design, and it is for a reason:

It’s so we don’t take credit.

In 2 Cor. 2, Paul uses the metaphor that God uses us: through us He diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge. It reaches the world! I want to be part of that, don’t you?

But how can that be, if we don’t fit in? If we are perceived to be foolish, simple, intellectually challenged…we get called that.

That’s the point. God uses us to diffuse the fragrance of His knowledge, and He draws the lost to Himself, through us! But it is HIM that does the drawing. It is HIM that does the convicting, putting to shame the things that seem mighty in our culture. It’s HIM!

We don’t get the credit. As it should be.

If we glory, glory in the Lord.

Here in verse 31, we see a direct quote from Jeremiah 9:23-24. I have always called this passage an example of Biblical self-esteem. “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

To God be the glory, great things He has done.

Praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice.

Through the foolishness of Christians who might not fit in. I’m okay with that.