Journeys of a Former Firebrand

1 Corinthians 1:4 (NASB 95): 4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus.

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We have so much to be thankful for. The fact that we woke up this morning, our feet hit the floor, we have a floor for our feet to hit, we have a house, food and clothing, shows we are blessed.

But there’s something even more important here to consider. There are even more important reasons than this to praise God.

In what ways should we thank God?

1. We should thank God for the saving grace He imparted to us without prejudice.

Paul here gives us the best reason to thank and praise God: He gave us His grace, His unmerited favor, something we could never have earned, a free gift accepted freely. If there were nothing more in the universe to thank God for, this would be enough.

Before Christ found us, there were no boundaries to our sinfulness. We were completely spiritually destitute, wallowing in our own selfish gratification, living only for ourselves.

Then God poured out His grace on us.

Now we are holy. Now we are blameless. Even now as we live in this imperfect human state, God claims us for His own. If not for grace, we would have wandered, orphans in a loveless world.

But for grace.

2. We should thank Christ for graciously going through it all for us.

Christ served as the lynchpin of God’s salvation plan. Without a perfect substitute to stand in our place, we would never have found grace. We would have remained in our sins and oblivious to God’s love.

Then Jesus went willingly to the cross for us. He didn’t have to, but He did. He, the perfect One, died on a cruel cross for those completely imperfect.

In the moment Christ willingly sacrificed Himself, God soaked all creation with His grace. His Son, Jesus Christ, suffered and died on our behalf, in our place, so that we could find reconciliation with God.

If not for Christ’s sacrifice, we would still stand as God’s enemies, hateful and angry toward Him. Instead, He calls us His children as we now stand in His grace.

But for grace.

So What?

Thank God every day that He showed grace and mercy to all of us so that we would have an opportunity for redemption.

Thank Jesus Christ that He didn’t turn away from the cross but dove headlong into suffering and grief so that we could have grace and mercy.

Thank God for saving your soul from your own sinfulness, giving you a perfect standing in Christ so that grace could have its way.

Thank God for every blessing and every situation. But bless Him most for the grace He lavished on you through His Son Jesus Christ.