OUR DAILY BREAD : THE POWER OF AFFIRMATION

[cimi]

September 10
Tuesday


THE POWER OF
AFFIRMATION

READ:
1 Corinthians 1:4-9
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I thank my God always
concerning you for
the grace of God
which was given to
you by Christ Jesus.
__1 Corinthians 1:4
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During a recent study, 200,000 employees were interviewed to discover the missing ingredient in their productivity. The study concluded that apppreciation and affirmation topped the list of what they wanted most from their superiors. This research implies that receiving affirmation is a basic human need.

The apostle Paul seemed to realize this basic need in the Corinthian believers, so before he peppered them with firm words of discipline, he showered them with affirmation. As their spiritual leader, Paul began his letter with thansgiving to God for the grace being displayed in their lives.

Once far from God, these believers were now participating in His grace through the death and resurrection of Christ. United with Jesus, they were drawing their spiritual life from Him and the fruit of this union was their spiritual growth in godliness (1 Cor. 1:4-7). Paul deliberately and continually thanked God for His work in the Corinthian believers' lives. I imagine that they were better able to bear firm criticism from Paul because of his tender affirmation.

When we see people who are obeying God, let's take time to affirm them and to thank God for what He's doing through them. __Marvin Williams

`````````````Lord, You are at work in so many ways in my life``````````````
``````````and in the people around me. Help me to encourage`````````````
````````````my brothers and sisters in Christ by telling them```````````````
````````````how I am blessed to see Your work in them.``````````````````
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Praise loudly__correct softly.

**********************Today's Bible rEading __ 1 corinthians 1:4-9**************************

4 I thank my God always
concerning you for the
grace of God which was
given to you by Christ
Jesus, 5 that you were
enriched in everything by
Him in all utterance and all
knowledge, 6 even as the
testimony of Christ was
confirmed in you, so that
you come short in no gift,
eagerly waiting for the
revelation of our Lord Jesus
Christ, 8 who will also
confirm you to the end, that
you may be blameless in
the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 9 God is faithful, by
whom you were called into
the fellowship of His Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
As is characteristic of Paul's letters, his first letter to the Corinthians
begins with a section describing how thankful he is not simply
for the Corinthians believers themselves, but also for what God is
doing in and through them. He's thankful for the grace that God
has given the Corinthians and that it has enriched them in speech
and knowledge (v.5). God's grace does not come without practical
and tangible effects. These benefits are given so that we can be
productive in our service as we wait for Christ to appear (v.7).