ENRICHED AND GIFTED

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

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.

1 Corinthians 1:4-6

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

We have so much to gain from choosing to believe in Jesus as Savior and becoming a Christian. Of course, the main thing we gain is salvation, the promise of eternal life, a resurrection to life from death, a sure victory over the grave and place in the kingdom of God as a co-heir with Christ.

That would be enough on its own but as we see in today’s passage, we have much more to be thankful for out of the abundance of what we receive from Jesus. Let’s look again at what the Apostle Paul mentions as he continues his opening words in his letter to the Corinthians:

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. 1 Corinthians 1:4-6

Here we see how a Christian becomes enriched and gifted when they choose to follow Jesus.

In what ways?

Let’s look at the ones mentioned in these three verses:

1. We are gifted with God’s grace.

“I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus.”

God could have left us in our fallen, wretched, hopeless place, separated from Him and destined for eternal damnation and torment but He didn’t. He so loved all His people that He didn’t wish for them to perish and so He sent His Son Jesus to be an atoning sacrifice, the perfect Lamb of God who came from heaven to earth to pay the sin penalty every sinner deserved. Through His death and resurrection, God made the way for people to be saved, rescued from His judgment and pardoned by Christ who justifies every sinner who places their trust in Him.

No one deserved this. No one.

Out of His deep mercy, God provided a way to be saved and it is simply, unadulterated amazing grace, a salvation not earned but rather freely granted. A true gift from God to one who believes in Jesus.

This is what Paul thanked God for, the amazing grace extended to the Corinthian Christians as well as himself.

2. Every Christian is enriched through Jesus.

“For in Him you have been enriched in every way...”

What does it mean to be enriched?

Consider this dictionary definition:

To improve or enhance the quality or value of

Now, ask yourself these questions:

How is a Christian improved by following Jesus? How has He improved you in your life?

How does a Christian find their quality enhanced by following Jesus? How has your quality of life been enhanced by Him?

How does Jesus make a Christian more valuable than they were without Him? How has your value elevated through your belief and trust in Him?

Our answers here may vary based on our different personal experiences but rather than try to pin down a specific way we are enriched, look again at what Paul says. He states that the Corinthian Christians were “enriched in every way”.

And so are we.

Jesus improves us in every way imaginable. As we strive to be more like Him every day, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us, we can’t help but be more like Him, better versions of ourselves each and every day.

Want to improve in every way? Want to enhance the quality of your life? Want to see the value of your life increase?

Dedicate yourself to being more like Jesus every day. For keep in mind the root of our spiritual identity as Christians is Christ.

3. Through Jesus, we are gifted with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge.

“For in Him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge.”

This final benefit Paul shares in regard to what is gained through following Jesus reminds me of two scripture passages, one from the Old Testament and one from the New.

First, here’s the Word from Proverbs, chapter 3:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. vv. 5-6

Jesus said He and the Father were one, and Jesus was perfect in every way because of it. He was just as much a source of perfect knowledge and wisdom as God was, and the good news is that Jesus doesn’t keep all this knowledge and wisdom to Himself. Rather, He imparts it on those who submit and turn to Him for it. All someone needs to do is trust in Him with all their heart, relying on Him and not one’s own understanding.

What happens when a Christian does this?

Jesus makes their paths straight. In other words, He grants them the perfect knowledge so all they do is pleasing in the Lord’s sight. This goes for everything they do, think, or say.

In regard to that latter, the way a Christian speaks, I’m reminded of these words from Jesus in the Gospel of Luke:

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” vv. 12:11-12

Jesus knew all about being called before authorities and questioned. He knew His disciples would be subject to the same harassment after He left them. And so Jesus wanted to reassure them that He would make sure they had the right words to say in self defense. All the disciples needed to do was wait for the Holy Spirit to impart speech upon them.

In other words, Jesus would give them the right words, at the right time, to perfectly help them, no matter the circumstances.

Not sure what to say to someone?

Turn to Jesus, submit to Him, pray and ask Him to give you the words to speak. Trust me when I say that He will never let you down.

Friends, yes, Jesus brings salvation to the person who believes in Him but He does far more than that for the Christian. He enhances them and gifts them in every way in order so His Gospel work can be continued and He might be lifted up and glorified.

Thanks be to God for the gift of His Son!

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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