“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way — in all your speaking and in all your knowledge — because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Corinthians 1:4-8 NIV)
There are many occasions for expressing our appreciation — Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, a special relationship, our Anniversary, or “just because.” However, when we think of Jesus or our Christian friends, thanksgiving swells up in our spirits — because of God’s grace through Christ.
Being in Christ is a unique experience. “. . . if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2Cor. 5:17 NIV). There is a metamorphosis that begins when Christ is in us and we are in Christ. A marvelous metamorphosis! Christ enriches both our knowledge and our speech. Thank God!
And we appreciate “the preacher” who introduced us to Christ; whether it was our mother, a close friend, a visitor from the church, the pastor, or an evangelist. Christ was confirmed in us because of his/her testimony. Thank God!
So, we are not second-rate Christians. While we wait for Christ’s return, we are all on the same plane of grace — we are not behind any other Christian or group. “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2Cor. 1:20 NIV). Every spiritual gift is ours to access and use. Thank God!
As we allow the metamorphosis to continue, Christ will keep us “strong to the end.” Through this spiritual metamorphosis Christ will make us to “be blameless on the day of” his appearing. What a reason to thank God!
Dear Father, thank you for your sanctifying grace through Christ. Empower us to yield to your metamorphosis. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in God’s enriching grace,