So…how foolish are you?

1 Cor 3:18

On our very first date, Lisa gave me a small desk calendar as a gift. Through the previous weeks of talking on the phone, she discovered that I like to golf and this daily desktop calendar combines photos of beautiful golf courses and a daily Bible verse. Today's verse says this: 'Let no one deceive themselves. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.' That verse brought to mind an earlier verse in the 1st chapter of the same book. Verse 27 says, '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.' That verse has always impressed me. I'm not sure if it's the stark contrast that is portrayed or the whole 'let's root for the underdog' theme, but it shows me how exactly diametrically opposed the world's view is compared to God's.

Being called a fool isn't always an insult…for example, when someone says that he or she is 'a golfing fool' or a 'shopping fool', it really means that the person is ridiculously committed to whatever activity they are diligently pursuing. Are you ridiculously committed to Jesus Christ? Shouldn't we be so ridiculously committed to Him, that we crave to know Him better? Crave to love Him deeper? Crave to put feet and action to our faith. Shouldn't we be so ridiculously committed to Him that just like the need of a firefighter to save the residents of a burning building, we should approach each person we come in contact with the need to share Christ. Ridiculously focused, ridiculously tenacious, with a ridiculous amount of love and patience! We should be so ridiculous about it that we can't help but want to talk to Him and about Him…live in Him and for Him...so ridiculous about Him that we give up what we've been, in exchange for what we can become...

Let mercy lead
Let love be the strength in your legs
And in every footprint that you leave
There'll be a drop of grace
If we can reach Beyond the wisdom of this age
Into the foolishness of God
That foolishness will save
Those who believe
Although their foolish hearts may break
They will find peace
And I'll meet you in that place
Where mercy leads
(as taken from Rich Mullins song - Let Mercy Lead)

~ V