“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong”

1 Corinthians 1:26–27

Growing up a Dailey seemed to mean having pride in a strong will and intellect. And honestly, over the years I have been motivated to grab for power, especially from knowledge. But the Apostle Paul’s address to the Corinthian church directs me opposite, and I feel like I’m just beginning to grasp the depth of Paul’s instruction. Paul instructs here that real strength is not motivated primarily by personal achievement, but cultivating unity in the church.

In key moments, I had the opportunity to claim new intellectual strength for my own personal achievement. But, the Holy Spirit has humbled me to remind me that I’m called to help reconcile souls to Christ and his church. RBS has been an excellent means to experience humility while growing in intellectual strength. I came to RBS thinking I knew how to write a paper, that my arguments made sense, and that I had some unique insights to give to the church. Man was I surprised after my first couple semesters! I received the first C in my first semester, my arguments were proven to be baseless, and I was trying to sound like I had something cutting edge to contribute to scholarship. Talk about tough love!

In 2019, seminary started as the top priority and gradually lowered in importance. Getting married, a new job in church planting, and getting pregnant all showed how seminary became progressively lower in importance. I’ve felt like Samson and how he confessed to Delilah that if his hair is cut then he will be weak like any other man. What man wants to be as strong as the rest? What’s cool about being normal? For me, it was intellectual strength I wanted to champion. After all, what man wants to be as smart as the rest?

Graduating with my Masters in Theological Studies reminds me that my goal in biblical education is not personal achievement, but cultivating unity in the church. Sure, I am proud to claim this personal achievement! But more than ever, I see how God can use this degree in my ministry and my family. Paul clarifies that the pinnacle of human strength is personal achievement for selfish gain, but the pinnacle of divine strength is unity in the church for God’s gain. God saved me and gave me this vision!

Moreover, I thank my wife, Leah Adeline, for waiting to get time with me at the end of many days. There is almost an entire year where she was getting the last of my energy every week day, and that proved unhealthy for our marriage. Her patience during that year is a monument of her love for me, something I really only appreciate now in hindsight. Likewise, I thank Mark & Cheryl Hatfield for investing in my ministry with wisdom, ministry vision, and finances. I thank all my professors at RBS who have influenced and inspired me to keep pursuing God’s Word, his community, and prayer. Furthermore, I am grateful for my mentors and the special influence I got from each of them (Ross Jelgerhuis, Mark Searby, and Brian Pacheco). Lastly, I thank Dr. Gonzales who has graded many of my papers. His patience and wisdom to engage intellectual opponents has greatly informed my thinking.

May God continue to use RBS to turn our personal gain into church unity!

In God’s divine strength,

Cliff Dailey