1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (NRSV)
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Chapter 1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, Verse 2To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Verse 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 4I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, Verse 5for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind- Verse 6just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you- Verse 7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 8He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 9God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Devotion
The church of Corinth wasn’t an easy church to lead. Divisions, debates and ethical dilemmas plagued the church and its leadership. Yet Paul, who was most grieved by the church’s difficulties, wrote emphatically: “I give thanks to God always for you because you are God’s people.”
By giving thanks to God for these aggrieved and aggravating people, Paul was able to be an effective pastor to them. By recognizing first of all that these difficult people were also God’s people, Paul was able to be their spiritual father. Giving thanks for difficult people is not easy, but recognizing them as God’s people is vital if we ever hope to live together in spite of our differences.
Prayer
God who claims all as Your own, help us to have your heart of thanksgiving for all whom we meet. Let us recognize, as You do, the giftedness of all humanity. Amen.