1 Corinthians, Day 1
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-17
Observation: Paul greets the Corinthians, thanking God for the abundant spiritual gifts he has given them. He goes on to address the divisions in the church and encourages the believers to be united by Christ alone.
Application: When I read this opening of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, I imagine him as a fairy godmother of sorts. Not a fairy godmother with a magic wand and a pumpkin-turned-horse-drawn-carriage, but a fairy godmother who smiles softly while penning these words of encouragement, telling the Corinthians: you already have everything you need to succeed. And his message isn’t simply to the Corinthians; it’s to all of us. It’s a message to me, and it’s a message to you.
You already have everything you need to succeed. Even when life feels like it’s spinning out of control…you have everything you need. Even when your relationship you thought would last forever suddenly fizzles out…you have everything you need. Even when you get news that your mom has cancer or your best friend’s husband passed away suddenly or you can’t have the children you’ve dreamed about for so long…you still have everything you need.
You have every spiritual gift you need. (verse 7)
You have all the strength you need to remain faultless before Christ. (verse 8)
You have the promises of God and the hope of salvation to push you forward. (verse 9)
You have it all – because of Jesus.
“He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.” (verse 2)
If you’ve put your faith and trust in him, then you have everything you need. When you feel empty, he will fill you. When you feel weak, he will give you strength. When you feel restless, he will give you peace. When you feel defeated, he will be your victory.
So chase after today with a hopeful confidence in the very one who gives your everything you need to make it – Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer: God, we praise you for salvation through Jesus – it all starts there. He is our hope, and he is the source of everything in our lives. We pray for strength, for hope, for peace, for everything we need to thrive in this life. Amen.