<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+8:28-39">Romans 8:28-39</span></span></p><p>What is God's great goal in the universe to which His energies are devoted? We have it in our text for today.The Living Bible puts this best and I have no hesitation in saying that although it is not regarded as a true translation (it is rather a paraphrase), its rendering of  <span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+8:29">Romans 8:29</span> is one of the most exciting things I have ever read. This is what it says: "For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him  should become like his Son." God's great energy and wisdom, working on behalf of all Christians, is directed to making us like His Son Jesus Christ. Of course this purpose will only be fully realized in the world to come, but while we are here He is pursuing that selfsame purpose nevertheless. It is only when we comprehend this that we will be able to understand the purpose that lies behind all our trials and difficulties.  <span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+8:28">Romans 8:28</span> - "And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good" (TLB) - must be read in connection with  <span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+8:29">Romans 8:29</span>. Because God is committed to making us like His Son, His wisdom goes to work on every trial that comes our way in order to bring from it something that will enrich our character and make us more like Jesus Christ. Infinite power is ruled by infinite wisdom. He could deliver us and make our lives comfortable but in a fallen world that is not the best purpose. Understanding this is crucial if we are to live our lives the way God desires.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Father, forgive me that so often my goals are diametrically opposed to Yours. Help me bring my goals in line with Your goals. I shall need Your help to adjust. Whatever happens, keep me ever moving toward becoming more and more like Jesus. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+1:1-31">1 Corinthians 1:1-31</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="col+2:3">Colossians 2:3</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How does Paul describe the foolishness of God?</li><li>What is hidden in Christ?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son " (v. 29)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+1:18-31">1 Corinthians 1:18-31</span></span></p><p>Another of the chief differences between Christianity and the world's religions, and something which adherents of other faiths find a major stumbling block, is the cross, which humbles all pride and dashes all hope of self-salvation. It also speaks of the tremendous and uncalculating generosity of God in providing for us a salvation that is without price. Kagawa, the great Japanese Christian, said that it was in the cross that he found Christianity's greatest uniqueness. Listen to his words, spoken some time before his death in 1960: "I am grateful for Shinto, for Buddhism and for Confucianism. I owe much to these faiths. Yet these three faiths utterly failed to minister to my heart's deepest needs. I was a pilgrim journeying upon a long road that had no turning. I was weary, I was footsore. I wandered through a dark and dismal world where tragedies were thick. Buddhism teaches great compassion ... but since the beginning of time, who has declared 'this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many unto the remission of sins'?" Islam, of course, proclaims the mercy of God. Each chapter of the Qur'an is introduced by the words "In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful." But they do not tell of a costly and historic display of God's mercy as portrayed by the cross and spoken of in each Gospel. In Islam, Allah is merciful to the meritorious, those who pray, give alms, and fast in Ramadan. In Christianity God is merciful to sinners not because of their good works but because of Christ's sacrifice for them on the cross. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Gracious and merciful Lord, through the cross I see right into Your heart. And what I see there sets my heart on fire. I see Love bleeding for me, saving me, delivering me. Now I can never be the same again. Thank You, dear Father. In Christ's Name. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ga+6:1-14">Galatians 6:1-14</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="eph+2:14-16">Ephesians 2:14-16</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="col+1:20">Colossians 1:20</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How did Paul view the cross?</li><li>What is at the heart of the message of the cross?</li></ul></div></div>

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing ..." (v. 18) 

<p>Trusting in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. § If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. § The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men… God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise… that no flesh should glory in His presence.<br><br>The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. § Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.<br><br>All bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. § No man ever spoke like this Man! § Of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God– and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.</p>

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth  come knowledge and understanding. 

<blockquote>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace" </strong>(<a id="verse_1632877292675592" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Romans/6/14">Rom. 6:14</a>).</p>
</blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;">Hatred for others comes easy for some; but to fully hate one's old man comes hard for all. The Lord Jesus loves us too much to allow us to go on loving ourselves.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">"The Christian's victory is not over others, but over himself. His sword is drawn, not to slay his fellowman, but to slay himself. He wins by losing. He triumphs by being defeated. He lives by dying. His crown is a crown of thorns. His throne is a Cross. His weapon is not strength but weakness.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">"His victory is not found in establishing his own cause but in establishing that of his fellow-men; the poor, the sick, the disinherited, the brokenhearted, the wayward, the lost. This may be foolishness to men. But we must not forget that the foolishness of God is stronger than men' (<a id="verse_1632877292376539" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/1-Corinthians/1/25">1 Cor. 1:25</a>). -F.J.H.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">"How blessed it is to know, and at the same time how solemn to realize, that the sin of the child of God is against his Father, and that it is the love of relationship that is called into exercise about it - love which acts towards us for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness'" (<a id="verse_1632877292829556" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Hebrews/12/10">Heb. 12:10</a>).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">"It is impossible that He should treat it lightly; and it will be impossible in the end for any one of His own to treat it lightly either. Grace abides towards us; and because grace abides, sin cannot be permitted to have sway over the objects of it." -W.K.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>"Let not sin, therefore, reign. . . "</strong> (<a id="verse_1632877292778961" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Romans/6/12">Rom. 6:12</a>).</p>

A 365 day devotional that will help you in your Christian growth and walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.  This devotional is a collection of quotes from some of the best authors in the realm of Christian growth that has been organized by Miles J Stanford.  This devotional study is divided into 12 sections each containing 31 daily portions.

None but the Hungry Heart

 The Real Enemy 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num ">25 </sup>For the foolishness   of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness   of God is stronger than human strength. </span></p>

For the foolishness<cr>1</cr>  of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness<cr>2</cr>  of God is stronger than human strength.

1 Corinthians 1:25

 25 For the foolishness   of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness   of God is stronger than human strength.

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 For the foolishness  of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness  of God is stronger than human strength.

<p><span class="bible-text ">For the foolishness   of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness   of God is stronger than human strength. </span></p>

 For the foolishness   of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness   of God is stronger than human strength.

Bible Verse of the Day

December 17, 2020

1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

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