Scripture Reading(s)
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus,
1:5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind–
1:6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you–
1:7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Reflections
As Christians we are called to persevere in this world and not back down from being sources of the good news of the Gospel of Christ. As a body of Christ we all have our own areas of strengths in which we can ultimately serve God and spreading the Gospel. Whatever area God has gifted us in, we have to remember that our strength to fulfill that role comes from Him alone.
In my own church, I serve in the kids ministry. There are days when I walk into the classroom and I feel mentally and physically exhausted. I have just finished a long week of working and various other tasks and there are moments that I do not feel up to it. That is why it is so important to realize that our strength does not come from ourselves but from God. Whenever I take the time to pray and ask God to give me strength to make it through a night of being in the kids ministry, it is amazing to see how much God will work through my weakness and inadequacy.
Paul here is encouraging the Church to do one simple thing: keep pressing on and doing God’s work. We are called to do the same thing. Do not give up on being a testimony to your neighbor, co-worker, friend, brother, sister, parent, etc. God can use you in ways that you will never imagine. Keep committing yourself to His loving and capable hands.
“He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Much is made today about God keeping Christians from harm, but that does not seem to be a biblical idea. However, God will give you strength to endure any hardship you encounter. Paul, the disciples, and the first 2 centuries of Christianity had relentless persecution. But not only did God give them strength and power but they performed miracles and converted thousands at a time to Christ. The martyrs of the early church became some of the most powerful testimony. Both kings and commoners admired how they met death with strength can confidence.
Naturally, I wish no one to become a martyr. But I do encourage our readers to remember that how we handle adversity demonstrates the power of Christ in us. When we stand strong in the faith people notice. We are living testimonies of the promises of God.
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