Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (NLT)
10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 11 For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. 12 Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not! 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crisps and Gaius, 15 for now no one can say they were baptized in my name. 16 (Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas, but I don’t remember baptizing anyone else.) 17 For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.
Observation:
First, I see there were problems in the “Early Church”- the church everyone is striving to be like. There were problems significant enough that they warranted intervention of Paul and were affecting the church’s mission to reach people for Christ.
Next, I see the heart of Paul as he makes an appeal to those who are quarreling from the deepest concern for the church.
I also see Paul does not want the ministry that the Lord has given him, or any other minister known then, to be a point of contention. Neither did he want it to seem that Christ was divided. He would not take sides with any of those who were quarreling.
Who baptized you, who preached the message when you received Christ, and who prayed for you when you were healed or delivered is not the point! The point is these are only available to us through Jesus Christ and NO OTHER.
Application:
While I realize conflict is not avoidable, quarreling over insignificant things is. I should be a builder of unity. This unity is not built by compromise, but rather by holding fast to the true unity in Christ Jesus. I must not get caught up in the political pieces of ministry. I must remain faithful to the call of God on my life to preach the Good News that is available through Jesus Christ who saved me and brought me out of great darkness into the Light of Life.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you today for all that you have done in my life. I thank you for bringing me out of darkness. I thank you for loving me and saving my soul. I pray you will help me to not get caught in the political parts of Christianity and that you will always grant me the anointing of the Holy Spirit to reach others with the truth of your saving power and of the unity that is in you and among the brethren. Help me keep my focus on you Lord. Amen.