I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. 1 Corinthians 1:10 NABRE
Paul is writing to the community at Corinth, that he founded, as a father to his children, correcting abuses, one such as divisiveness. The community is creating factions around different leaders who preached to them. The community is divided around the personality they admire or believe was their community entre. Paul urges, exhorts the members to unite, agree in the name of Jesus Christ. Paul had followers, one faction and he blasts their claim as him as their hero. He does the same for the other factions with different heroes. Every Christian should say they belong to Christ. Paul asks rhetorical questions; Was Paul Crucified? Is Christ divided? Their mission is the mission of Jesus, division distracts and jeopardizes that mission. Paul rightly challenges them to look beyond human leaders to Jesus, the one for who the cross has such great meaning. Paul’s prayer was also on the heart of Jesus as he prayed. Jesus on the night he was arrested prayed; “I pray … so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” John 17:20-21 Unity is critical to witnessing to Jesus.
Today division becomes a reason not to believe in Jesus. Religious institutions and individual churches portray rivalries, turf wars, bad mouthing and other sabotages to the work of the Lord, generally petty self-interests. Being united to bring people to Jesus should be a highest priority, we must be willing to sacrifice self-interest for the sake of the body of Christ, the Church.
How do you view your church’s mission for Jesus? How can we be better united for Christ?
Being united to bring people to Jesus should be a highest priority, we must be willing to sacrifice self-interest for the sake of the body of Christ, the Church. Share on X#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity#dailybible @youversion #paul #unity#division #witness #everybodyalways #god#jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood#dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture#bibleverses #verses #pray #prayers#goodnews #loveeachother #godisgreat#boca #youversion #everythingalways