PROPER PERSPECTIVE
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Opening Prayer
Thank you, Father, for the gift of your Word and for its power to change me. Please change me in ways that enable me to serve you better.
Read 1 CORINTHIANS 1:1–9
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving
4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Read Revelation 5:11–14 and thank God for your place in his story and for his promise to be faithful all your journey through.Before zeroing in on the issues in their church and city, Paul invites the Corinthians to get a proper perspective on who they are. Reminded that they’ve been made holy in Jesus, they’re to remember their calling to live a holy life in the world—and that they don’t stand alone, for their story is part of a much bigger one involving ‘all those everywhere’ who belong to Jesus (v. 2). Paul blesses them with God’s grace and peace so that they can be fruitful in that calling (v. 3).
Paul reminds them of what God has done. It began with God sending Paul to them with the gospel in the first place (v. 1). So great was the outpouring of grace that they’ve been ‘enriched in every way’ (v. 5). God confirmed the truth of Paul’s gospel by ensuring they had every spiritual gift necessary to grow in faith (v. 7). Paul’s delight in them is clear: every time he prays for them he’s carried into thanksgiving for all that God has done.
The introduction ends with a reminder of what God will do. Look to the horizon, Paul insists: as you hunger to see Jesus return, depend on God’s faithfulness and be sustained by fellowship with Jesus throughout the journey.
Apply
Where might there be spiritual gifts you feel are lacking in you at the moment? Ask God to enrich you in every way necessary.
Closing prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to remember who I am in Christ and who I am as a part of his church. Help me to stand in those truths, eager and ready to do your will.
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