Listen

I thank my God always for you, because of God’s grace that was given to you in Christ Jesus. That is, you were made rich through him in everything: in all your communication and every kind of knowledge, in the same way that the testimony about Christ was confirmed with you. The result is that you aren’t missing any spiritual gift while you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also confirm your testimony about Christ until the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and you were called by him to partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Think

Do you ever have FOMO? That is, a fear of missing out?

You may fear that you have missed out on the latest trend, the best party, the sale price for something you want. It’s easy to let FOMO creep into our everyday lives: instead of enjoying the experiences we’re having, we wonder if there’s something better happening. It can even become difficult to pray, as our mind keeps bringing us back to what else we could be doing.

FOMO is not just a 21st century condition. Paul addresses these very worries in this portion of his letter to the church at Corinth. He reminds the Corinthians that God has already bestowed grace on them, and that the Corinthians have responded by communicating the good news to others. They don’t need to fear that they’re missing something! They have the spiritual gifts that they need. There is no place better for them to be.

Jane Claspy Nesmith

Pray

Being with you, merciful God, is the best place for me.

When I start to fear that I’m missing out on something, remind me that you are always with me, and that my spiritual gifts are enough.

Amen.

Go

Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I’ll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

John Bell in “The Summons” (1987)