The Source

1 Corinthians 1:  1-10

“1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.”

In the first ten verses of Paul’s letter to the Church in Corinth,  the name of Christ appears ten times.  Paul’s letter was going to be a difficult one in which Paul was going to deal with sensitive issues.  

So, Paul emphasized Christ and reminded the members of the Corinthian church that it was by Christ that they were saved, by Christ that they were given strength, by Christ they received their spiritual gifts, and it was Christ that they served.

In our spiritual walk, it is important that we never forget the source of our salvation.  Let us never forget the wellspring of our faith, the inspiration of our love, the power of our souls. Let us never forget who and why we serve.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)