This Week’s Devotional: Foolish Things

Week 3 – January 14-20, 2024

This week’s daily readings:

Reading January 14-20, 2024

This week’s devotional:

Foolish Things

by The Rt. Rev. Brian Bethke

Scripture:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
-— 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

Reflection:

It was one of those days… one of those weeks! It felt like everywhere I went I was in a hurry. In order for my week to work, everything had to go smoothly and so far, it had. I had one more place to be; just one more meeting, the most important meeting, and then the insanity would stop. As I quickly walked back to my car, two minutes ahead of schedule, I reached into my pocket to retrieve my car keys only to discover a millisecond later that my keys were still in the ignition, encased in a locked car. My stomach sank. What was I going to do?

As I contemplated my options, a few of my colleagues decided they would help me solve the problem. One discovered the driver’s-side window had a slight opening. Another concocted a device made of wire hangers and a pen in hopes that the unlock button could be pushed. Another suggested that we break the back window to gain access. Finally, another developed this elaborate plan to call his road-side assistance service telling them he was borrowing my car and had locked the keys inside, thus ensuring they were obligated to help. 

The longer this went on, the more complicated (and ridiculous) the plans got. Frustration was setting in when a young boy, just ten years old – the son of one of the collaborators – asked if we had tried opening all the car doors. His father quickly asked him to go sit in their car. Could it really be that easy? We looked at each other, then finally one of the men tried the passenger door. It was unlocked. We all felt foolish. 

As human beings, we have a knack for over-complicating things. We have a tendency towards thinking the solution to our problems is about education and leveraging our power. The message of the cross flips everything upside down. Maybe it’s too simple for us, in the context of our sheer inability to fix ourselves. Realizing that we need to be saved unlocks the power of the cross and the resurrected Christ. 

What “foolishness” do you need to discard in your life? Where do you need to see the saving power of the cross, specifically in your life right now?

Prayer:

O Wise Father, I’m so very grateful to know your Gospel plan of salvation and the power of the cross. How often do I try to fix things for myself, only to fail again and again? Forgive my foolishness Lord! Stop me from over-complicating things and remind me to go to you for the solution to my problems. Help me to reach out to those who may be perishing, speaking the Gospel without fear of sounding foolish, and strengthen me with your Holy Spirit in order to do all this. Amen