Readings for today: 1 Corinthians 1-4
Today is a bonus day for many people in my country. It’s part of a four day weekend of celebration with friends and family. Many use this time to sleep in. Eat leftovers from the Thanksgiving feast they enjoyed yesterday. Decorate for Christmas. Shop the “Black Friday” sales. Of course, not everyone has the day off. Some will head back to work. Someone has to man the stores for those who shop. First responders will continue to keep our communities safe. Doctors and nurses will treat patients. Airline pilots and flight attendants will start flying people back home on what promises to be another busy weekend at the airports.
Though the Thanksgiving holiday may be coming to a close, our passage for today reminds us that “Thanksgiving” is more of a lifestyle than a one day event. It’s more an attitude of the heart than a meal around a table with those we love. I love how Paul begins almost every one of his letters with thanksgiving. “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge - even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you - so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:4-9)
The Corinthian Christians were a mess. They were immoral. They were divisive. They were prideful and greedy. They were broken in all sorts of ways and yet Paul thanks God for them. He thanks God for the grace given them. For the spiritual gifts poured out on them. For the testimony of Christ among them. It’s a great reminder that no matter how broken our churches may become, Christ is faithful. He will sustain us to the end. He will present us guiltless at the final day before the throne.
Yesterday, I gave thanks for many things. My family. My friends. The wonderful church I serve. The opportunities I’ve been given. Most of all, I gave thanks to God for the grace He has poured out on me. Without Christ, there’s a strong chance I would be an alcoholic. Working odd jobs struggling to make ends meet. No marriage. No kids. No career. I was aimless before I met Jesus. I was lost and wandering with no sense of purpose or direction. Then Christ came into my life and changed everything. He enriched me in more ways than I deserve. He lavished gifts on me that I did not earn. He provided opportunities for me I could never have achieved on my own. My life is radically different because of what Jesus did for me so I take time to thank Him. Every single day. I hope you will as well.
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 5-8