by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Finding Hope in the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 English Standard Version

I wonder how many people have tripped over this root. It’s obviously a hazard. You would think that people would see it, but it’s still easy to miss. Head up, staring at the mountain ahead and the next thing you know, you’re trying to catch your balance, or worse, picking yourself up off the ground. (Not that anything like that has happened to me when I’m hiking!)

Hiking can be dangerous to your health.

Not only are there roots and rocks that jump up and grab you, but there are drop offs, low hung branches, and your dog who suddenly gets the scent of a rabbit. There is a reason experts recommend that you take a first aid kit with you when you go hiking.

What are the things that cause you to stumble in your walk with Jesus? Paul wrote that the need for signs caused the Jews to stumble. For Gentiles it was the need for reasonable arguments.

Again, what causes you to stumble? Is it your need to make science and faith line up perfectly? Is it your need for an iron clad argument for the existence of God? Is it your need for a miracle to prove that God is who he says he is?

All Paul needed was Christ. He is all we need. He is all that you need. The WISDOM of Christ is made known to us in his cross. The POWER of Christ is made known to us in his resurrection.

Rather than get hung up on mysteries, God invites us to hold on to Jesus. Jesus is the power and wisdom of God at work in our lives.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado