THE EFFECT OF THE CROSS
I Corinthians 1:14-15, 17
"I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I baptized in my own name .... For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect."
Paul was not into counting heads so he could brag about how many converts he had. His calling was not to get a lot of feathers in his cap, but evangelism – to preach the gospel. Whatever success he had was because of the effect of the cross, not his own ability to convince with magnetic personality or powerful logic. Later he admits that his speech and preaching were not with persuasive words and wisdom so that their faith might not be in him, but in God (I Cor. 2:4-5). He was just being faithful to his calling. I am sometimes sad that so few people have been saved under my ministry. I don't have the ability to convince people by smooth speech or wonderful personality. Congregations I pastored did not grow much. But I have tried to be faithful to what God called me to do, and leave the rest to Him. It is the power of the cross that changes people, not my ability.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: It is the power of the cross that saves and changes people.
Have a "powerful" day. Love you.
I Corinthians 1:14-15, 17
"I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I baptized in my own name .... For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect."
Paul was not into counting heads so he could brag about how many converts he had. His calling was not to get a lot of feathers in his cap, but evangelism – to preach the gospel. Whatever success he had was because of the effect of the cross, not his own ability to convince with magnetic personality or powerful logic. Later he admits that his speech and preaching were not with persuasive words and wisdom so that their faith might not be in him, but in God (I Cor. 2:4-5). He was just being faithful to his calling. I am sometimes sad that so few people have been saved under my ministry. I don't have the ability to convince people by smooth speech or wonderful personality. Congregations I pastored did not grow much. But I have tried to be faithful to what God called me to do, and leave the rest to Him. It is the power of the cross that changes people, not my ability.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: It is the power of the cross that saves and changes people.
Have a "powerful" day. Love you.
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