One Lord

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord. We thank God for His goodness, mercy and for the body of Christ. Paul continues his letter to the Corinthians saying:

Primary Text

“for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?” 1 Corinthians 3v3-4 (NLT)

I am reminded of another verse where the Lord Jesus spoke about people of the world. Luke 22v24-27 (NIV) says “A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” Interesting that the disciples at that time had this dispute. I wonder if it went along the lines of Peter is greatest; no John is, alongside his brother James, no no no says Matthew…. But Jesus corrected their way of thinking. In 1 Corinthians 3v3-4 Paul is again saying these factions and aligning with one person versus another – I am for Paul, or I am for Apollo - is carnal and a worldly way of thinking. One can imagine this is happening even in the church today – oh, I am of this denomination, I follow the preaching of this pastor ONLY… Have you been thinking like this or causing divisions in the body of Christ, perhaps even unknowingly. May God help us all to be unified in the body of Christ in Jesus name, amen.

Supplementary Verse

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4v2-6 (NIV)

Prayer

Father, we thank You for Your Word and Your Spirit. We pray that You will fill us afresh with Your Spirit and let there be growing evidence of His presence in us in Jesus name, amen. We pray as well that You will purge us from every sensual, earthly and devilish wisdom and fill us with the wisdom from above in Jesus name we pray, amen.