Partnership With Christ

Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. [1 Corinthians 1.7-9]

"Every spiritual gift you need..." is a pretty big box!

But what gifts do we need? Paul actually says it clearly. He says we have every gift and goes on to say that with every gift, Christ will keep us strong to the end and therefore free from blame when Jesus returns.

But what Paul concludes with above is telling! He says we are invited into partnership with Jesus!

If only we would start every day understanding we are in partnership with Jesus! This is entirely consistent with what Jesus said:

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20.21-23]

Our partnership with Christ is also seen in His "Great Commission:"

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28.18-20]

And, Jesus defined His role on earth to give us the specifics of what our partnership with Him should actually look like:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” [Luke 4.18-19]

Partnership means partnership! We are in this thing together with Jesus! Let that soak in.

Father help me to live today like a partner with Jesus - with every necessary spiritual gift ready as needed to accomplish Your love to the world.