“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way; with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge; God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore, you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
This passage comes at the beginning of a letter that Paul wrote to one of the struggling early churches in Corinth. As most of you know, Paul was an apostle primarily charged by God with sharing the good news with the gentiles.
Recently dad mentioned to me that when he thinks about the churches in Haiti, he often thinks of them much like the early churches. Isn’t that an interesting concept? It’s so true. These small churches, meeting in buildings made of brush and thatched roofs in the hills of Haiti; those in dark, hot cinderblock rooms in cities or outskirts of cities, facing persecution and danger all because they have HOPE in our Risen Savior! Paul’s mission that began two thousand ago is still alive and well and spreading by the grace of God to unreached places in the world today.
These versus bring so much comfort knowing that our God is faithful. Our hope in him is not a “maybe He will come, maybe He will save us,” but “when He will come, He has already saved us.” God gives everything we need to serve Him and spread His love around the world! We are a united church with the brothers and sisters that work alongside us in our churches, and that extends too to the brothers and sisters who praise God in the churches of Haiti! Praise God for that! He is working through us, and them, to share his gospel even to the remote areas of a little, impoverished island in the Caribbean.
Today, I would like to close with a thought to ponder. What is God doing in your life right now? How is he working in you and through you? Consider the enrichments and spiritual gifts that God has given you and pray that he guides you to use them to continue spreading his love.
Heavenly Father, THANK YOU for your provision. Thank you for giving us everything we need to serve you. Give us eyes to see your vision, courage to set out on your path, and a desire to obey. Thank you for the times that we see you working around us. We know that even when we aren’t seeing the immediate fruits of your plan, we know that you are indeed at work. Please use us to plant a seed everywhere we go that will grow and flourish and be evidence of your glory. Please watch over our friends in Haiti this morning, that they may be safe and their bellies full. Be with my friends reading this devotion this morning too. Lord, you know what they need. In Jesus’s precious name we pray these things, AMEN.
Deidre Brinkmeyer Larson