The preaching of the cross

As I was preparing a study in the epistle of James for Tuesday night's Bible study, the scripture found in 1 Cor. 1:18 came to my mind and I want to share it with you today. Paul says "For the message of the cross is foolishness to them that are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." And as I write this blog entry this a.m. Dr. Kutty and his dear wife are in India with a passionate call on their lives for that country preaching the message of the cross because it is the power of God unto salvation. Bishop Mohanty is spreading the Word, the message of the cross in another part of India because it is the power of God unto salvation, and because the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. verse 25

The French's left a comfortable home in N.B. to go and live in slightly less than the comfort they were used to, in fact it is considerably less comfort than what they were used to living in. Why? Because the preaching of the cross is the power of God for saving souls from sin and hell. I think of Sister Isabel who gave her life on a mission field that many times was a hard field but today there are churches planted there who are still preaching the message of the cross. Remember that they who are perishing thought she was foolish but she was used as a handmaiden of the Lord to bring this message to a lost world.
There are some ladies in Mali, Africa today who are working in 37 celsius heat, under the auspices of Medical Missions International headed up by Sister Madeleine; they have left the comforts of home and are spending their own money to bring healing and comfort to people who have nothing in this world's goods. They are dressing open wounds and sores that smell badly and look repulsive but they are bringing Christ and the message of the cross to these predominantly Muslim people who have never had this kind of love shown to them before. Why? It is because of the preaching of the cross.
My mind takes me to Barcelona where Armando and Consuelo with their sons have built a large congregation of young believers from children that they witnessed to in the parks and today it is a vibrant work of God. Why did they go from their native country of Columbia where believe it or not the Gospel is readily accepted and the Pentecostal church is one of if not the fastest growing churches in that country and go to Spain where every convert has to be extracted it seems, where folks are apethetic to say the least, it takes years sometimes to see one convert. I'm talking about the preaching of the cross. And every Christian could and should be a preacher. Paul said , "we preach Christ crucified" and that is still the only message this world needs to hear.