November 23rd

Can You Believe This?

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you...that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, I am of Paul,' or, I am of Apollos,' or I am of Cephas,' or I am of Christ.' 1 Corinthians 2:2

Remember yourself back in math class. Now try to answer this: 100 divided by 2 is-of course you know-50.

Alright, you got that one correct, so let's try one more: 90 divided by three is-you got it?-30, that's right.

In the church at Corinth had a problem with division, and I don't mean a math problem.

I mean that the church was split a bunch of different ways, schisms within one body over whose teaching they associated themselves with.

The church was splitting at its seams, but not because of growth. Imagine a political climate in America where instead of two main parties, there were four main parties, and each one's followers staunchly held their status as registered voters of that party. It's bad enough just with two main parties, yet this church had at least four groups duking it out for supremacy.

Paul heard about this and had one thing to say: Stop it! Stop being divided!

He went on to give them a vision of something higher than division to unite them. He said, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

It's all the same, so stop arguing about it. In fact, realize that everyone who is working for God's benefit in your life is on the same side, and that it's you who are bickering and tearing each other down who are on the wrong side!

It's time for us to realize that Jesus has one body and that we serve Him best by building it up, not tearing it down.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You that You can work through anyone! I repent for any time that I have torn down Your body and worked to create divisions. Please help me to see Your body the way that You do and rejoice whenever it is built up.

Amen