1 Corinthians 1-4

Paul has heard that the Christians in Corinth were already in discord, fighting over which apostle they followed…Paul, or Apollos, or Peter.  Paul chastised them and reminded them that they are to follow Christ.  The person who led them to Christ is not important.

He also said something that struck a chord in me with the difficulties I’ve been facing lately:

²⁰ For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

And here:

²⁴ But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles,^[f] Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

So…putting it all together…the Kingdom of God is living by Christ, the power of God.

It is comforting to dwell on God’s intelligence and his power.  Even his weakness — if he ever had any — would be stronger than the world’s strongest strong man.  And that power is accessible to we who believe in Jesus…

If only I could be bold enough to stand up in that faith in His power, I would stand at the brink of the next panic attack and declare, as Gandalf did in The Fellowship of the Ring…You Shall Not Pass.  You can slow me down, but you will not keep me from God’s purpose in my life.  Because greater is He that is In me than the one who is manipulating my emotions and my thoughts.

Can I take that stand?  Can you?