Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 1
1 Corinthians 1:7-9 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
As the Corinthian Christians waited for the coming of Jesus Christ, Paul was confident that Christ himself would make them stable and establish them as mature believers. That is what the word ‘confirm’ means. It is interesting to see the confidence of Paul in the fact that Jesus Christ will sanctify his followers. He said to the Philippian Christians:
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
As we think about this confidence, Paul did not leave newly born again believers all alone. He worked hard to teach them and instruct them in the ways of God. On his first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas led many to faith in Christ. They preached in several cities and then went back to check on the new churches.
Acts 14:21-23 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Paul preached the gospel and taught them of the Christian life. He ordained elders for the churches and made sure there were overseers. Ultimately, he commended them to the Lord. After all, Jesus is the One whom they are to follow, not men. It is important to help new believers grow in their faith, but it is also important to know that we cannot do it for them. They must know Jesus and follow him. We can help. We are called to the fellowship of the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord. We can trust God to work in the lives of his children.
Do you know someone who is struggling in their faith? What should you do? Pray for them. Talk to them. Encourage them and try to help them. But most importantly, be confident that God is faithful and he will bring his children to a place of maturity in their Christian walk.
In Christ,
Rody
