Greetings and Introduction
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, peace, joy and grace to you in the holy name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Greetings to you in those who have been sanctified and justified by faith in Christ, who is God’s chosen vessel of true righteousness and the only way of salvation for the whole world. To him be glory forever and ever.
Dear brothers and sisters, today we are going to meditate on a very important verse. This verse not only reminds us of the roots of our faith, but also leads us to humility and dependence on God’s grace in our lives.
Our verse for today is 1 Corinthians 1:26, this verse is a mirror for us, which shows us that we should not be proud, but be humble and thankful for the grace that chose and changed us. So let us now understand this verse a little deeper.
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Title : Not the Wise, Not the Mighty, Not the Noble, but the Chosen Ones of God
Book : 1 Corinthians
Author : Apostle Paul
Chapter : 1
Verse : 26
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Corinthians 1:26 (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 1:26 - Context
This verse is part of 1 Corinthians chapter 1, where the apostle Paul is addressing the church in Corinth. Corinth was a prosperous, educated, and commercial center at that time. There were great philosophers, scholars, and wealthy merchants there. In such a city, it was natural to think that God’s message would be only for the elite or learned. But Paul dispelled this misconception and told them the truth.
He explained that most of those who received the Christian call came from ordinary lives. They were neither highly educated, nor powerful, nor from noble families. Yet they were called and their lives were transformed. This proved that the power of the gospel is not based on human wisdom or position but on God’s grace.
Paul’s purpose was to humble the church by seeing its calling. God challenged the wisdom and power of the world by choosing those who were previously considered small and weak. This is the very nature of the gospel—that God works where people think nothing is possible, and shows His glory by means that the world despises.
The context of this verse reminds us that the Christian faith is not based on human merit or social status. It is rooted in God’s grace, and His plan is often contrary to the world’s expectations. This is why Paul tells the Corinthian congregation to “Look at your calling,” so that they would understand that whatever happened in their lives was the result of God’s power and plan.
1 Corinthians 1:26 - Commentary
For you see your calling, brethren - “Look at your own calling.” This is an appeal from Paul: Take a good look at yourselves and your churches and consider what kind of people are part of Christ’s calling. This is not just about individual preachers or leaders, but about the whole church — people called by God’s grace. Paul wants people not to be proud of their outward appearance or wisdom, but to understand what kind of people are naturally drawn to Jesus Christ. The word “look” is sometimes a command — “look carefully,” and sometimes a reminder — “you know this.” But the main message is this: to understand God’s wonderful plan by looking at the circumstances of others.
that not many wise according to the flesh - not many scholars or philosophers in the eyes of the world — were included in this calling. Corinth was a center of learning and philosophy, but the church was mostly made up of ordinary and uneducated people. This does not mean that no wise men believed. Some did, such as Nicodemus, the leading teacher of the Jews, and Gamaliel, a great scholar of the Law. Similarly, Apollos, a learned Scripture scholar of Alexandria, became a servant of the Lord. But their number was very small. The point is that the power of the gospel did not depend on human wisdom or reasoning but on God’s providence and spiritual power.
not many mighty - those who had position, power, and influence. “Mighty” refers to those in political, social, or economic positions. There are some examples, such as Erastus, the treasurer of Corinth; Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy and respected Jewish leader; and Cornelius, a centurion in the Roman army. But by and large, the church was made up of simple and humble people. Paul's message is that God accomplished His work by not relying on the power and position of the world. His power is separate from the powers of the world and often works in opposition to them.
not many noble, are called - that is, people from high-ranking and influential families were not usually called. Of course, there are a few names in the Bible—such as Crispus and Sosthenes, who were leaders of the synagogue, and some others from high-ranking families—but this was not the general trend. This makes an important principle clear: wealth, birth, or education are neither a help nor a hindrance to God's grace. God saw which hearts were inclined to Him, and He often chose the simple, the small, and the backward to reveal His glory.
1 Corinthians 1:26 - Applying in Life
When we apply this verse to our lives, we first need to understand that the way God chooses us is very different from how our world thinks. We often judge people by their education, wealth, fame, or position. But God looks at those who are simple and humble. This means that no matter how small our society considers us, we still have a place in God's plan. This thinking gives us confidence and prevents us from looking down on others.
This verse also reminds us that whatever changes have happened in our lives have happened by God's grace, not by our own strength. If we are living a new life free from evil today, it is not the result of our merit but by His power. When this truth enters the heart, there is no room for pride. The true fruit of this is to be thankful for every blessing and to remain humble.
Another lesson for us is that God often wants to use us for those very things for which we consider ourselves most unqualified. When we think that we can do nothing, that is the moment when God makes us an instrument of His work. So do not be afraid of your limited knowledge, resources or abilities. If you step out in faith, even the most ordinary person can become a wonderful instrument in His hands.
Finally, applying this verse means that we do not judge people by their outward condition. Those who appear small and weak can be the most valuable in God's eyes. We have to look at our church, our family and society with the perspective that every person can be called by God. When this vision comes into our heart, we treat everyone with love and equality and the world also gets to see the love of Christ through our lives.
1 Corinthians 1:26 - Prayer
Dear God,
I thank You for this new morning. It is a new day given to me by Your grace and mercy. I accept that my breath, my life, and every moment of my life are in Your hand. I am grateful that You have given me another opportunity to thank You and walk in Your way.
Lord, I pray that You give me the vision that Paul showed—that my calling is not by my merit or strength, but by Your grace alone. When I feel small and unworthy, remind me that this is my strength, because You make Your power known by choosing the weak. May my heart never be proud, and if it is, it is only because I know You, just as You said. And may I always be humble and thankful.
Oh, merciful Lord, I also pray for my family and my loved ones. Grant them health and protection. May Your peace and care be with them every day. May they also understand that their true value is not in their status or possessions, but in Your calling. When they are in difficulty or sickness, heal them, O Lord who heals them, and give them the strength to always hold on to Your hand.
Finally, Lord, I surrender my entire life into Your hands. May my thoughts, my words, and my actions be for Your glory. Just as You chose ordinary people to do great things, may Your will be done in my life. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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