The Jews look for a work of power; the Greeks wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified.

This week I saw a news item quoting the CEO of one of the AI companies: "We have to build God or die trying." What he meant by that was that the competition is such that they have to be able to make something that is super intelligent. Not just artificial intelligence, but superintelligence that embodies the wisdom of the world.

Now, contrast that with what Paul writes to the Corinthians where he states that by wisdom, the world knows not God. God has made foolish the wisdom of this world. Paul goes on to say that the Jews look for a sign, a work of power, the Greeks look for wisdom. "But we preach Christ crucified a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks." Christ crucified. A messiah that appears weak; unable to conquer the world.

What does Jesus say that we must do? "Take up your cross and follow me." Don't look for, don't seek after the strength and the wisdom. Take up the weakness. Take up your cross.

Now, Paul goes on to talk about the mighty, the wise, the things which appear substantial. And he states that God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. He has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty--the cross, the weakness, to the Greeks' foolishness and to the Jews unacceptable--the base things of the world and the things which are despised, the things which are nothing, these instruments God has chosen to bring to nothing the things that are. Why? Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. "In your weakness," God told Paul, "is my strength made manifest."

In his introduction to the Journal of George Fox William Penn wrote:

It was, and yet is, we know, a day of small things, and of small account with too many. Many hard and ill names are given to it, but it is of God. It came from Him because it leads to Him. This we know, but we cannot make another know it as we know it, unless he will take the same way to know it that we took.

What is this way that Penn is talking about? Take up the cross. Turn your back on the things that the world calls power, the things that the world calls wisdom. Turn your face toward that inward call of God to follow his voice. Penn proceeds:

For the world talks of God, but what do they do? They pray for power, but reject the principle in which it is. If you would know God and worship and serve God, as you should do, you must come to the means he has ordained and given for that purpose. Some seek it in books, some in learned men; but what they look for is in themselves, and yet they overlook it. The voice was too still, the seed too small, and the light shineth in the darkness. They are abroad, and so cannot divide the spoil. But the woman that lost her silver found it at home after she had lighted her candle and swept her house. Do you so too, and you shall find what Pilate wanted to know, vis. truth."

Do not despise the day of small things. For it is not by the might of mankind nor by his power that the purpose of the Lord is accomplished. "By my breath" the work of the Lord is brought forth in the world.

"In the beginning was the Word," wrote John. The Word is breath made intelligible. In this Word, this breath made intelligible, is life and the life is the light of mankind. The life and the light have appeared in the death and darkness of the human heart. The smallest glimmer of light dispels the darkness and a tiny spark of life renders powerless the one who works by the power of death--small things that the world by its wisdom cannot comprehend (i.e. cannot understand, encompass, or overpower). Jesus, the Word made flesh, stated: "Abide in my word..." Take up your habitation--abide--in the Word in whom is the life and the light and you shall know the truth. Light your candle and search within. This is where you will find the Word. The truth will make you free from bondage to evil, free from darkness, free from manipulation by the threat of death. Take up your cross that crucifies you to the world that you may live to serve the living God.

The Israelites stood before the mountain and heard the voice of God speaking to them. They discovered that they were dealing with something completely other than golden calves or the star of Remphan. They discovered that they were dealing with a living God that speaks with man and demands an obedient response. The effect was terrifying. Here was something more than past experience led them to anticipate.

The day of small things, live in the life and light. Let these small things be esteemed above worldly acclaim and greatness. Live in the sense of having come to the speaking God. Live in the Word who speaks the breath of life into you. It leads to truth. It leads to life. And by this, we know that we have found what we search for. We have found God. Idols, even super intelligent ones, cannot produce life, light, and truth. These only come by having the breath of life spoken into us.