1 Cor. 1 "All We Need"

1 Corinthians 1 – Brandon Hatmaker “All We Need”
Thursday, June 12th, 2008

There are two key things that stand out to me today in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians. The first is found in verses 4-9:

“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. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”

What encouragement. Paul reminds us that we do not lack any spiritual gift as we wait on the return of Jesus. He’s reminding us that we have all that we need to live the fullest of life in Christ, to overcome any trial or temptation, to live in peace and contentment with no fear of condemnation, and to live a life of purpose because we have already been given the mission.

I’m reminded of Jesus’ words in John 5, “"My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." Through the Spirit, His work continues.

The second thought comes from verses 22-25:

“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.”

Paul reminds us what both the Greeks and Jews looked for. The fact is, it’s exactly what Jesus gave them, and it still wasn’t enough for them. He gave them miraculous signs. He displayed wisdom that baffled the wise. Yet many still rejected Him.

We do the same thing. We ask and look for circumstances of revelation. When we see them, we reason them away. Even when we recognize them as a gift, we easily forget them with time or don’t allow them to actual change us. Why? Because life-change is deeper than circumstance. It’s spiritual and it’s heart. There is an amazing tension found through scripture between God’s movement and man’s responsibility to respond. While God uses circumstance to move us towards revelation, true revelation is always found beyond circumstance.

Father, once again I find comfort in your greatness. There is sufficiency found only in you. Continuously teach me to trust in your ways. Teach me to pursue your heart and to surrender mine.