1 Corinthians 1:26-29, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 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."
You see your calling, brethren: Paul says to the Corinthians, "Look at yourselves. You're no great bargain." There were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble among the Christians at Corinth.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world: Looking again at the Corinthians, Paul can say "you aren't wise according to the world, you aren't mighty, you aren't noble - but you are among the foolish things of the world."
No doubt, many of the Corinthian Christians were beginning to think of themselves in high terms because of God's work in them. Paul will not allow this. They have not been chosen because they are so great, but because God is so great.
To put to shame the wise: This explains part of the pleasure of God described in 1 Corinthians 1:21. God loves to rebuke the idolatry of human wisdom, and He often does it by choosing and using the foolish things of the world.
The end result is plain: That no flesh should glory in His presence. No one will stand before God and declare, "I figured You out" or "You did it just like I thought You should." God's ways are greater and higher, and nothing of the flesh will glory in His presence.
Dear God, Thank you for showing me your glory even if it means that I also see my foolishness. Praise to You alone!
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