1 Corinthians 1:17-31 KJV
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

The need for a sign is often called on by those that believe and a need for wisdom is a person that seeks only knowledge. It not untrue that we want to test the waters so to speak and make sure something is of God. We want to know that what seems to be God is truly God, because otherwise we become fools of the world. What does it matter to the world that try and deceive a person into believing without testing/evidence of it being God. Knowledge is often seen has evidence of fact of truth of the reality of God. In the modern world most people are a little Jewish and a little greek when comes to the evidence of a sign and proof of knowledge, history, or fact. The skeptics of faith receive it from God much like doubting Thomas, before he seen Christ after he was risen. The evidence given to Thomas with the signs of the nail scarred hands and where the soldiers had put a sword in the side of Christ, the wound still seeable and even a hand could reach into the side, and fingers could go into the holes of the nailed scarred hands of Jesus.

All kinds of signs were giving to the Jews concerning Christ's birth, and even God himself testified at his baptism who his Son was. The signs and wonders of many miracles done by Christ himself was evidence enough. Let us go to verse 29 of todays reading and it says no flesh should glory in his presence. Well I in the flesh, no Paul here is talking about non believers are unable to glorified God.

Anyone can say Praise God, and not mean it, but they can not glorify a God they do not preceive exist. These people only need to be a mustard seed of faith. It one only needs a mustard seed of faith to worship God and to glorify him in his/her spirit. Remember the verse in John 4, where it says the true worshippers must worship in spirit and and truth. we can not glorify God without doing so in our heart and mind. The knowledge of God comes within our very soul and glorifies him when we believe. The reality of God seen throughout God's creation.

The study of science might prove that we still do not know a thing about our world without a test tube, one will have to consider what scripture spoken since that time it was first began being recorder back at the time of early man. How it was transcribe over time into many languages. The idea of fact that can later be proven by the test tube world and telescopic age. The glory of God fully seen through nature before test instruments. Before the wisdom of Solomon the wisdom of God shown through the knowledge God had that man knew not. From the destruction of the earth at the time of Noah, to the destruction of Sodom and Gommorah. Knowledge on how to build and then the knowledge of how to escape the judgment. God told Noah about ark that was larger then probably any sailing vessel of his day that he needed to build to save his family. God told Abraham not to go to Sodom and Gomorrah to rescue his nephew, because in truth the wisdom of God and the discourse with Abraham proclaim to Abraham that salvation was possible for his nephew and family and He would keep them safe and they would not be destroy without just cause. Because there was if there was ten righteous people in Sodom God would not destroy. God brought Lot out of Sodom with his family. Our wisdom not equal to God or does his plans gives us understanding, beyond that fact God said this will not be. There times the saints walk through fire, and other times through flood and water. His protection is known to the individual and seen by those around.

We will condemn people based on what we see, but not on what we can't see of a person heart. We assume the evilness of the heart shows it true colors when one makes an error, but in truth we all make mistakes and not all of us have evil heart, because God has changed us upon belief in Christ. God see that heart even with sin. We seen that in the story of Moses and his order of killing the people that worship the golden calf. What we learn is that man's judgment came, but God corrected those that judged and showed mercy to them. God many times destroy idolatary. Yet not everytime did he, because it taught man of faith about foolishness of man. To carve something with his own hands was plain foolishness and to bow to it. How many objects do we behold on shelves and admire, never praying to it, but enjoying the beauty of it. It seems crazy, until you realize man began to take and bow to those Knick Knacks in a form of adoration. Object can teach history, but it can not predict the future. It can tell of a people about a place without speaking. Now they even have talking statues. What the point, do we admire and adore the things made by man to the point God is no longer glorified and we hold to the truth without acknowledge God through these objects.

I be truthful, we might look at the world and see God's beauty but is our admiration greater for God's creation then him? Father's day is tomorrow. Do we honor our earthly father's more then God our Heavenly Father? Nothing wrong with recognizing our achievements and our families, but when it becomes honoring them and not God we loose who we are as a people, who were created to worship God and him alone. Christ glorified God in everything he did, even going to the cross because he glorified God in the temple.

If we honor our fathers today and tomorrow, we need to be praising God for our father's who God gave us even if it only as a biological father and all other fathers because they cared enough to be a father to children not their own. For a friend of mine, all fathers that are mother's who played the father's role, because the father was not there as a father. God gives us people that love us as children and raises us up to be strong vibrant men and women. Hopefully godly people not people without the knowledge of God. Part of who you are comes from how you were raised and loved. Love even comes to those who seem to be in unloving situations. Coming from others that causes others to want that in their life. We do not know who we are speaking too, why because we do not know what love they may need in their life as a person. Sometimes that extra mile defines a person receiving faith in God. That slamming of door only tells someone that God does not care. The minute the door is shut it better be for the right reason. We all need to be father's and mothers to the world. Not police dogs, but have that nuturing loving spirit of good parents. That same nuturing our Heavenly Father gives to us by his Spirit and his Son.

Dear Heavenly Father may we glorify you not with wisdom of man or knowledge of man, but your knowledge by your Spirit and the working of miracles by your Spirit in the lives of others. To demonstrate that unconditional love that are earthly father's, mother's and caregivers need. Give us that compassion for others to care beyond our own need. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Romans 1:17-21 KJV
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.