August 13

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the serene? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews, standing block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mights, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath

chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

There are five things mentioned in verses 27 and 28, which God has specially chosen: the foolish, weak, base, despised, and things which are not.

"What is that in thine hand?" said God to Moses. It was a rod, probably a rude shepherd's crook. But with that Moses wrought his signs. So, all through the Bible, we find God using the insignificant. Joshua and the rams' horns; David and the sling; Samson and the jawbone of an ass; Gideon and the broken pitchers; Shamgar and the ox-goad; Dorcas and her needle; the widow and her mites; the woman who was a sinner and her tears—all show this truth.

"The loftiness of this world must be brought low, if it would enter the kingdom of God. The heights of earthly promotion and glory lift us no whit nearer heaven. It is easier to step there from the lowly vale of humiliation and sorrow."—Gossner.

"To God belongs all the glory. If, then, God is to display His power in thee and make something out of thee, thou must consent to become as nothing."—C. F. Kling.

"We have too much stuck-up-a-tiveness."—Spurgeon.

Closet Promise.—A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench.—Isa. xlii. 3.

We never have more than we can bear. The present hour we are always able to endure. As our day, so is our strength. If the trials of many years were gathered into one, they would overwhelm us; therefore, in pity to our little strength, He sends first one, then another, then removes both, and lays on a third, heavier, perhaps, than either; but all is so wisely measured to our strength that the bruised reed is never broken. We do not enough look at our trials in this continuous and successive view. Each one is sent to teach us something, and altogether they have a lesson which is beyond the power of any to teach alone.—H. E. Manning.