1 Corinthians 1:3-9
New Living Translation (NLT)
3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way - with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way - with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Thought for the Day
Eager waiting is an important element of this season. What child hasn't eagerly entertained thoughts of what is awaiting them under the tree when they rise on Christmas morning?! However, there are different kinds of "waiting". PASSIVE waiting means we sit around and SLOWLY watch as time passes. ACTIVE waiting, on the other hand, means that we stay involved in things that are important and needful even as we keep our eye on the future. The season of Advent focuses on Christ's FIRST "advent"/coming as well as his SECOND "advent"/coming. We celebrate the "gift" that has ALREADY been given - God's Son, Jesus the Christ - because through Christ we have been given all we truly need: a connection with the God who made us, a place to truly "belong" [the Church], and even God's presence to live within us and empower us [the Holy Spirit]. These gifts are given to help us "wait" - until Christ comes again in glory.
Eager waiting is an important element of this season. What child hasn't eagerly entertained thoughts of what is awaiting them under the tree when they rise on Christmas morning?! However, there are different kinds of "waiting". PASSIVE waiting means we sit around and SLOWLY watch as time passes. ACTIVE waiting, on the other hand, means that we stay involved in things that are important and needful even as we keep our eye on the future. The season of Advent focuses on Christ's FIRST "advent"/coming as well as his SECOND "advent"/coming. We celebrate the "gift" that has ALREADY been given - God's Son, Jesus the Christ - because through Christ we have been given all we truly need: a connection with the God who made us, a place to truly "belong" [the Church], and even God's presence to live within us and empower us [the Holy Spirit]. These gifts are given to help us "wait" - until Christ comes again in glory.
Today's ADVENTure
The next time you see a Christmas package, remember God's gift of Jesus.
How true it is that God's gifts often come wrapped. We can't actually see the wonderful gift until at the appropriate time they are unwrapped and revealed to be the marvelous gift they really are.
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