1 Corinthians 1:3-6 (MSG)
3 May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.
4-6 Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.
It is always exciting to hear people share their testimonies about the miracles they have experienced in their relationship with Christ and the work of his grace for salvation. When God moves in our behalf and brings miraculous results it is completely inspiring to our faith. We light up on the outside; our countenance glows with his glory. We radiate the love of God and people notice.
In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds the believers at Corinth (and believers throughout time) that although outward experiences with our miracle-working God are amazing, those experiences are minimal in comparison to the miracle of salvation and the work God has done “in” us. In your spirit, you are whole and perfectly glorious. This miracle makes it possible for Christ to live within us; he creates his own environment perfect because he is perfect. On outside, however, we are following the Spirit who helps and teaches us to live as Christ. Some days we live quite imperfectly, but we press on by faith and trust in God’s power to finish his miraculous work of salvation. May the evidence of Christ’s presence in us be verified in our lives.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the miracle of salvation and for working in my life those things that are pleasing to you. Help me stay the course. In Jesus’ name. Amen.