This week had the American holiday of Thanksgiving. Americans trace this holiday and celebration back to 1621. After several years of poor harvests and disease, the number who had settled in what is now Massachusetts had dwindled. But that year they had a good harvest and they celebrated for three days, undoubtedly giving thanks for the harvest. It became an annual observance in 1863.

I’ve heard Americans on the news advocating that there should be time spent discussing what they were thankful for before beginning their dinner. The idea of being thankful should resonate well with us as Christians.

“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 NIV)

Paul begins almost every letter we have in scripture with being thankful. This even applied to the Christians in Corinth who were struggling with all sorts of problems and division. Sadly there are Christians who cannot think of a kind thing to say about those with whom they have disagreements. Paul was not this way! He opened this letter, which is going to contain a lot of rebuke and correction, by giving thanks for this group of Christians.

His thanksgiving for the Corinthian Christians centred on what they had received from God: his grace. Because of Jesus we can have our sins forgiven and be restored to fellowship with God. This opens up the blessings that are given to us in abundance. When we are in Jesus we are “enriched in every way”. As Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, God has “blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Whatever we need spiritually we have been given in Jesus.

The Christians in Corinth had been greatly blessed with spiritual gifts. These miraculous gifts would have been given through the hands of an apostle, most likely Paul himself. They did not lack anything in order to remain faithful and live productive lives as followers of Jesus. They could “eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed”. What an honour to be so blessed! But, if we have read the “rest of the story”, these blessings had become a problem as well – but he will get to that later in this letter. Right now he simply reminded them of the great blessings they had received.

Paul also gave thanks that God had called them into fellowship with his Son, who was the Messiah and now their Lord and Master. All they had goes back to Jesus. Because his death paid the price for their sins they were now forgiven. They now had a relationship with God as his children and he as their father. Their fellowship was with Jesus – it was based on their relationship with him. Again, sadly, this fellowship was being torn apart and Paul dealt with that in the next few verses. But they should have been thankful for what they had in Jesus.

What are we thankful for? Do we realise the great blessing we have starting with being forgiven? Do we rejoice in having every spiritual blessing that we need? Do we recognise what it means to be in fellowship with Jesus which puts us into fellowship with each other? May we learn to be more thankful for all that God has done for us!

Photo of ruins in Corinth by neufal54 from pixabay.com. Free for use.

Readings for next week: Luke 23-24; 1 Corinthians 1-6