1 Corinthians 1:18
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.

I discovered this verse, quite accidentally, when I was in my late tweens/early teens. It was the first time I can remember reading the Bible purely of my own accord, finding a verse that spoke to me, and committing it to memory. I wish I could say that it was the beginning of a lifelong habit for me, but, alas, it is yet another area in which God is still working on me.

By that age, I was just starting to realize that being a Christian is not the default in our world. Many grow up going to church or being exposed to Christian ideas and stories, but not so many truly understand this “message of the cross” of which Paul wrote here. I was beginnning to see differences in the choices my friends were making, including one who had begun to call herself an atheist. I was beginnning to see that living this life was going to mean being thought a fool, and this verse made it all make sense.

In this verse, I hear the Lord telling me that He knows how crazy the story of the cross will sound to those who have hardened their hearts, but it is never mine to decide who those people are. The message of the cross, of our complete justification through Christ’s death in our place, might sounds like madness to some, but the truth is, it is powerful to save those who will believe its simple truth. The very power of God is contained in a message that Christ empowers me and emboldens me to vocalize. Whether I will be thought a fool or not, this verse reminds me that it is entirely worth it to share this powerful message at every available opportunity.

Now fly over to his blog and check out his favorite verse!