He Will Also Keep You Firm To The End

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. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

When employees are asked what they want from their supervisors, receiving affirmation is the most basic of human needs.

The apostle Paul seemed to realize this basic need to the Corinthian believers, so before he gave them firm words of discipline, he showered them with affirmation. As their spirited leader, Paul began his letter with thanksgiving to God for the grace being displayed in their lives.

Once far from God, these believers were now participating in His grace through the death and resurrection of Christ. United with Jesus, they were drawing their spiritual life from Him, and the fruit of this union was their spiritual growth in godliness. Paul deliberately and continually thanked God for His work in the Corinthians believers’ lives. We can imagine that they were better able to heart firm criticism from Paul because of his tender affirmation.

When we see people who are obeying God, let’s take time to affirm them and to thank God for what He’s doing through them.

Praise loudly – correct softly.

Our Daily Bread – September 10, 2013