That No Flesh Should Glory - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

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 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
1 Corinthians 1:18, 27-29 NKJV

That No Flesh Should Glory
"To us who are being saved," the message of the cross is the power of God. But for the rest of mankind, it is only foolishness. The whole meaning of the cross—the death of a righteous Man required by the righteousness of God, free pardon for sinners, the laying aside of the natural man—are just so many truths that conflict with human reason. If, on the contrary, miracles and spectacular works are offered, a lofty ideal along with a moral code requiring effort—fine, that is the kind of religion which offends no one. Well! All the wise, the scribes, the disputers, in short the powerful intellects of that age, and all ages, are placed under a common, frightening title: "those who are perishing" (v. 18).

It is a fact that among the redeemed of the Lord there are not many wise, powerful or noble people (v. 26), for it is more difficult for them to become "as little children" (Mt. 18:3; 11:25). In order to glorify Himself, God chooses what is weak, vile, and despised, and Christians are just that in the world's estimation. But what does their own value matter since they are in Christ and He is accounted to them power, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:24, 30).

-- J. Koechlin

Jesus, my soul adoring bends

To love so full, so free;

Thy word declares that love extends

In saving power to me.

-- Anne Steele