1 Corinthians 1:4-9

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

I give thanks to my God for you all at all times because of the grace of God that was being given to you all in Christ Jesus.  Because in every way you all are being made rich in Him – in all speech and all knowledge – just as the testimony of Christ was being established in you all so that you all do not lack in any spiritual gift while eagerly awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.  And He will establish you all in faith until the end – blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, through whom you all were being called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Let’s look at Paul’s thanksgiving.  Notice that Paul does say that he gives thanks for the Corinthians.  But his thankfulness for the Corinthians is because of the grace of God that was given to them.  Paul is in a position of gratefulness because of God’s work.  It is not the people so much for whom Paul is thankful; it is the way that God’s grace is pouring through them.

What is the difference between being thankful for a person and being thankful for the way God is working through them?  Which position helps humbleness continue to exist more easily?

Second Thought:

Paul then reminds the Corinthians that they are being made rich in Christ.  As we draw closer to God, our wisdom and knowledge increases.  This allows us to speak more confidently into people’s lives.  This allows us to use our spiritual gifts more effectively.  This allows us to be about the work of the Father with better results and direction.  We may not be growing rich in terms of the world.  But in ways that absolutely matter we are growing rich every day we draw closer to the Lord.

Where are you rich in Christ?  How is your wisdom and knowledge growing?  Where are you able to invest this growth into the lives of others?

Third Thought:

Finally, Paul reminds the Corinthian people that God will establish them in faith.  God will keep them strong.  God will keep them blameless.  God will do all of the heavy lifting, essentially!  It is God who is faithful.  Our job is simply to respond to the doors that God opens up in our life.

Do you rely upon God to do great things through you or do you try and do them yourself?  Why might it be important to be reminded more often of God’s faithfulness than our own faithfulness?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17