Be Willing To Look Foolish
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27)
A pastor writes: “Poll after poll has found that most people’s number one fear is speaking in public. Death ranks number two. That means some people would rather die than speak in public. Why? It’s the fear of looking foolish…But faith is the willingness to look foolish. Noah looked foolish building an ark in the desert. Sarah looked foolish buying maternity clothes at 90. The Israelites looked foolish marching around Jericho blowing trumpets. David looked foolish attacking Goliath with a slingshot. The wise men looked foolish following yonder star. Peter looked foolish stepping out of the boat in the middle of the lake. And Jesus looked foolish hanging half-naked on the cross.
But that’s the essence of faith. And the results speak for themselves. Noah was saved from the flood. Sarah gave birth to Isaac. The walls of Jericho came tumbling down. David defeated Goliath. The wise men found the Messiah. Peter walked on water. And Jesus rose from the dead. The greatest breakthroughs, miracles, and turning points in Scripture can be traced back to someone who was willing to look foolish.”
Why? Read this Scripture: ‘“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”’ (Isaiah 55:8-9).
So here is your choice: live by earthly thoughts and ways and be accepted by people, or live by heavenly thoughts and ways and be accepted by God. When you see it from that perspective, your choice is clear.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me do the things that You call me to do, even when others do not understand and think I am foolish. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
ITTT
Thank you so much for sending the devotions to my new email!! I just wanted to let you know that God has blessed me with a teaching job, and I can see His hand in answering my prayers for provision. God is so, so, so, so good to me! : ) This year will be a bridge, and I will be working towards getting back to finish my last years in Lutheran schools. I updated my Candidate status with LCMS and let them know that I hope to return in 2027-2028. Thank you again for all you do! This has been a wonderful way for me to begin and end my days.
Great message!!
Asking permission to share.
Good morning. I have been listening to these devotionals for many years. For some reason, I am not getting them in my email or trash. I try to sign up and it says I’m already getting them. So I ask Siri every morning to put you on as I walk the dog and listen to the devotional. It is always such a great one. I am on an LCC Comfort Dog team and really appreciate them. Is there anyway I can get help making sure I get them again? My email is baschu4@bellsouth.net.. God bless and thank you so much for these wonderful devotional. Thank you so much, Schumacher.