Praising God Not People

⁴I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— ⁶because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. ⁷Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. ⁸He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Paul, opens his letter to the church at Corinth with his customary salutation and words of thanksgiving. But notice that in giving thanks for the believers in Corinth Paul is praising God, not the people in the church. Based on how he began verse 4, “I always thank God for you because . . .,” we might expect him to list characteristics about the Corinthians that make them praise-worthy. Instead, he points to the work of God in their lives. His grace. His faithfulness. Paul’s words of encouragement were not mere words of flattery. He points very clearly to God as the source of his gratitude and their value. Our worth is rooted exclusively in the things that God has done in our lives. He brings significance to our existence. (also see verse 26)

Father, thank you for calling me by your grace. My desire is that my life would declare your glory. I invite you to use my weaknesses to display your power for others to see.