The Chosen of God: Reflections on 1 Corinthians and Spurgeon’s Devotion
It’s always encouraging when different parts of our spiritual journey align, reinforcing God’s message to us in unexpected ways. This past Sunday, as we continued our journey through 1 Corinthians, we explored Paul’s powerful words about God’s choice of the weak, the lowly, and the despised to display His glory. And then, throughout the week, I was struck by how the very same theme resounded in Charles Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening” devotional.
In 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Paul reminds us:
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29, NIV)
Paul’s words remind us that God’s kingdom doesn’t operate on human standards of power, prestige, and accomplishment. Instead, He deliberately chooses those whom the world overlooks, those whom society dismisses, to showcase His grace and strength.
Spurgeon, reflecting on the same truth, paints a striking picture of the kind of people Christ came to save:
Morning Devotion – Day 342
“Base things of the world hath God chosen.”
Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare, and you will see sinners then. Watch when the night is dark, and the wind is howling, and the picklock is grating in the door, and you will see sinners then. Go to yon jail, and walk through the wards, and mark the men with heavy over-hanging brows, men whom you would not like to meet at night, and there are sinners there. Go to the Reformatories, and note those who have betrayed a rampant juvenile depravity, and you will see sinners there. Go across the seas to the place where a man will gnaw a bone upon which is reeking human flesh, and there is a sinner there. Go where you will, you need not ransack earth to find sinners, for they are common enough; you may find them in every lane and street of every city, and town, and village, and hamlet. It is for such that Jesus died. If you will select me the grossest specimen of humanity, if he be but born of woman, I will have hope of him yet, because Jesus Christ is come to seek and to save sinners. Electing love has selected some of the worst to be made the best. Pebbles of the brook grace turns into jewels for the crown-royal. Worthless dross he transforms into pure gold. Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst of mankind to be the reward of the Saviour’s passion. Effectual grace calls forth many of the vilest of the vile to sit at the table of mercy, and therefore let none despair.
Reader, by that love looking out of Jesus’ tearful eyes, by that love streaming from those bleeding wounds, by that faithful love, that strong love, that pure, disinterested, and abiding love; by the heart and by the bowels of the Saviour’s compassion, we conjure you turn not away as though it were nothing to you; but believe on him and you shall be saved. Trust your soul with him and he will bring you to his Father’s right hand in glory everlasting.
Spurgeon’s vivid imagery brings home the reality that Jesus did not come to save the righteous, but sinners. No one is beyond His grace. The most broken, the most rejected, the most sinful—these are the ones whom God calls, redeems, and transforms.
If we take this truth seriously, it humbles us. It reminds us that none of us stand before God because of our merit but because of His mercy. It also emboldens us to share the gospel freely, knowing that no one is too far gone for His love to reach.
So, as we reflect on this passage in 1 Corinthians and Spurgeon’s stirring meditation, let us be encouraged. God’s ways are not our ways, and His grace knows no bounds. If you ever doubt whether God can use you or whether His love extends to those whom society has written off, let these words remind you: He chooses the weak to shame the strong, the foolish to confound the wise, and the broken to display His glory.
May we rest in His grace and extend it freely to others.