God’s great queue
1 Corinthians 1.1-9
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.
Prepare
How good are you at waiting for something? Whether it’s a long queue at the supermarket checkout, the return of a loved one, the birth of a child, we all have to wait. What are you waiting for now?
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Paul addresses this letter to all Christians everywhere (v 2), at all times. All of us together have been ‘called’ to be a ‘holy people’, ‘sanctified’, set apart to show God’s character in our lives, set apart to live God’s way.
That’s what Paul means when he says we are to ‘eagerly wait’ for Jesus’ return (v 7), making the most of the gifts of ‘grace’, ‘speech’ and ‘knowledge’ God has ‘enriched’ us with (vs 4, 5). Waiting for Jesus’ return isn’t about sitting around twiddling our thumbs; we have a job to do, living out our faith so the world might see what God is like.
It sounds straightforward, but like the Corinthians it is even easier to get distracted, to forget we are waiting in God’s great ‘queue’. I find it so much easier to sit on my sofa watching TV, than spend the effort praying for my friends and family. It’s a lot more fun gossiping with my friends than fasting once a week, or sharing my faith with someone.
There are many distractions, but one God, and one queue.
Respond
What things distract you while you wait for Christ’s return? Think of a way in which you can wait eagerly, using the gifts God has given you.