Praying God's Word: Prayers of Paul (Part 2)預覽

PRAY HUMBLY – GOD IS GRACIOUS

1 Corinthians 1:4-7 – I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul will later spend most of this letter rebuking sin and correcting errors, yet he is still sincerely thankful for God’s work in the Corinthian Christians.

Those who feel called to rebuke sin and correct errors in the church today should follow Paul’s example. Unfortunately, many of them never communicate any encouragement with their correction and advice.

For the grace which was given to you by Jesus Christ: This was the specific reason for Paul’s gratitude. Everything good the Corinthian Christians have from God has come to them by grace. Grace means God gives freely, for His own reasons.

This was the effect of grace in the life of the Corinthian Christians. The Corinthians were a “rich” church, not only materially, but also in their speech and knowledge of Jesus (all utterance and in all knowledge… the testimony of Christ), in their abounding in the gifts (come short in no gift), and in that they lived in anticipation of Jesus’ coming (eagerly waiting).

The work of God in the Corinthian Christians could be seen by what they said, by what they learned, by a supernatural element in their lives, and by their expectant anticipation of Jesus’ return.

When Paul looked at the Corinthian church, he could say: “These people proclaim Jesus, they know about Jesus, there are the supernatural gifts of God among them, and they are excited about Jesus’ return.” Whatever problems they had, these are some pretty impressive strong points. Can even this much be said about many churches today? We may pride ourselves on not having the problems of the Corinthian Christians, but do we have their positives?

Yet, these positives were no great credit to the Corinthian Christians themselves. They were not the spiritual achievements of the Corinthians, but the work of the grace of God in them.

Prompt: Pray 1 Corinthians 1:4-7. Thank God for His grace, freely given to each one of us. Stand humbly and confidently in the grace of God today. 

Based on the Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik.