1 Corinthians 1:26-29 English Standard Version

²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,^{[according to the flesh]} not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so that no human being^{[no flesh]} might boast in the presence of God.

Those of us in Christ understand these verses very well. When we have been in the Way for a number of years the chains of slavery to sin are a distant memory. We must remember this in order to relate the gospel to those who are hearing it for the first time. They might not see them as chains but might relate to the flesh that dominates their thoughts and actions.

There is no struggle between the spirit and the flesh for the lost, no spirit has been given to win that fight. All we can do is point to the sickness. Are they sick of sin or are they reveling in it? This is where the issues of weakness begs for some relief, some control, to relieve the soul from the loss of control.

The strong flesh will revel in triumph. They dominate others and abuse their power to subject others to their own selfish will. This is why God has sent this message about shaming the strong. They will never taste the glory of Christ because their appetites are of the flesh.

We should remember that moment in our own personal confession of condition that led us to Christ.

Mine was simple. “I don’t want to be like this.”

Some might believe confession has to be specific in detail in order to be real. All that is required is to be honest about our heart condition and ask for help. There are no magic words.

Proverbs 22:6 English Standard Version (ESV) Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Godly influences can only be taught if the parents have been brought up in a manner that they can train the next generation in the way to go. This is generational influence. Parents and grandparents have the first opportunity to influence children. This is why we have been encouraged not to be unevenly yoked.

Do not believe that it is just that simple. The wisest man to rule over Israel fell away from instructions in righteousness and it caused that kingdom to be divided. King Solomon was unduly influenced because of the desires of the flesh.

1 Kings 11:3-4 English Standard Version

³ He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. ⁴ For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

Wisdom alone will not keep us on the right path. Influences afflict the wise as it does the common man. This must be taught as a warning to the children that learning alone is insufficient to allow us to make right choices where wisdom fails us. We must examine those things that influence us.

We left off yesterday with this thought. “It is in the breaking of the influences that we can come to see our salvation is at hand.” It is the Lord who sets us free from the power of sin that enslaves us, then how does the Lord break those influences in our lives so that we might seek Him and follow Him?

Have we loved a particular food so much that we gorge ourselves to the point of being sick?

Sin is like that.