Give Thanks; He is Faithful
Words of Faith 4-22-25
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2025
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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1 Corinthians
[4] I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. [5] For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge-- [6] because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. [7] Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. [8] He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

I marvel at Paul and how he always gives thanks for the people of God. Virtually every letter he wrote begins with a warm expression of gratitude not to but for the people he is writing to. This might have been the most difficult "thanksgiving" of all because of the problems going on in Corinth, but it seems to come with great ease. Why is that?
Certainly, Paul was not thankful for the abuses that were going on in the church at Corinth. He was not grateful for the immorality that had crept into church or the rude behavior displayed in worship settings. Paul was not thankful for the arrogant abuses of spiritual gifts or the disruption of worship. He was not grateful for the arguments about who was the better leader-- himself or Apollos. He was not thankful for the selfishness that had crept in or that people were focused on themselves rather than being concerned about how their words or behavior might cause others to stumble.
But there was still so much to be thankful for! Even in this troubled church, Paul could step back and give thanks for the big stuff. He was grateful for the very grace of God, who is so patient with His church. He was able to give thanks for the marvelous ways that God had enriched the lives of the Corinthian believers and for the confirmation of the Gospel in their lives. The Apostle was able to thank God for the incredible outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the giving of diverse spiritual gifts among the believers. He was able to thank God for the eagerness of some for the Lord Jesus to be revealed.
Out of this spirit of thanksgiving, which is the big picture, Paul gave a tremendous sense of reassurance about God's work among the Corinthians. Though this was the most troubled church he would ever deal with, and even though some were self-absorbed and even narcissistic, Paul knew that God could and would build strength in them that would last to the end!
Paul knew long ago that "it's not about you.” It is about God! God is faithful even when the gathering of "called out ones" is unfaithful. God is always faithful and will complete His intention to sanctify us and present us blameless on the day of Christ Jesus. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
Wow! What an affirmation of God's truth! God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. I should type that out ten times just for emphasis. God is faithful! Even when those we work with are not. Even when people fail us. Even when we are disappointed. Even when we fail ourselves and those we love. Even when those we love fail us. Even when things seem crazy.
God is bigger than all of that, and He is faithful. He will complete what He has started in us. The Lord has called us into fellowship with Himself in Jesus. He did not do that haphazardly or without thought. He was very deliberate in calling you and me into fellowship with Jesus. And God is faithful.
This does not mean that Paul will not have to deal pointedly with the errors in doctrine and behavior that had gotten loose among the Corinthian believers. It just means that He could do so from a perspective of absolute faith, trusting that God would indeed work out these problems and move His church toward a spotless day of glory at the coming of the Lord.
For us, we can get frustrated, too. We live in a day and age when church leaders fail us, and some Christians are more likely to behave like consumers than disciples. Even in the church, we may deal with people who are rude, self-absorbed, materialistic, or immoral. But God is faithful. He is not done with us yet.
The answer is not to abandon the Body of Christ, form yet another tinier group that we think will all agree, or form yet another mega-gathering of anonymity where everyone smiles and no one knows anyone. The answer is to trust that God knows exactly what needs to be done and will do it. He is faithful.

Father God, keep my eye upon You, always trusting in You and Your path. Help me to get my heart into You and You into my heart as never before. Help me to see the big picture like Paul did. Help me to trust You more and more-- For God, who has called me into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2025
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2025 Jeffrey D. Hoy.