“Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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.” 1 Corinthians 1:1-8
Paul, of all people quite naturally capable, knew what it was to be both called and supplied. Purpose and deep sanctifying had come to him by God’s grace and with His peace. He yearned for his young churches to know that with heavenly calling comes equipping, both spiritual and practical. God’s children are saints, servants and stewards of His manifold graces, and required to be trustworthy. (Acts 22:3; 1 Corinthians 4:1; Philippians 3:4-6)
Really, saints? Yes! And with responsibility! We who’ve called on the Lord Jesus in response to His calling us are to exercise our gifts, cooperate with sanctification, and call others. He enriches our speech and knowledge to inspire and confirm clear testimony of His presence in our lives.
And He’s faithful to supply what we need. Sometimes His equipping is in spite of us, to magnify His power and grace. He assigns certain duties, our responsibility peculiar and personal. We are to take care as we carry them out to remain tied to Him. (1 Corinthians 1:17,24,26-31; 2:4-5; 3:10)
Sometimes His sustaining tests our faith, so we work and serve and minister in His strength alone. Try as we might to muster energy or effort, we falter only to learn that His strength is perfected in weakness, it is His resurrection life in us that infuses divine power. (2 Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 2:20)
Where is the Lord calling us to be and serve in His name? Are we flagging in spiritual hunger or desire? What refrains of inability, uselessness, or failure do we repeat that hinder us from following? Where do we exert and exhaust self-effort apart from reliance on His gracious sustenance? What new and deliberate dependence on Him, what practices, what fresh willingness could motivate and effect a vibrant, fruitful witness?
For every lack the Lord supplies, every weakness He supports, every hunger He feeds, every dearth He enables. Indeed He who calls is faithful. Will we trust Him? (1 Thessalonians 5:24; James 1:5)
Lord, grant me daily the mind of Christ that I may know and follow the Spirit’s direction and minister in the flow of Your secret, hidden, ageless, life-altering wisdom. All growth and glory be Yours. (1 Corinthians 2:7,10,13,16; 3:5-7)
As the rain and snow 