ESOCS Devotional 27 January 2023
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-31
MEMORY VERSE: “So that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.” 1 Corinthians 12:25 IKJV
A fundamental truth is that the natural human body is one, but with many members. Such members of the human body include the hands, legs, and eyes, to mention but a few. In likewise manner, there is only one Universal Body of Christ – The Church. Though the Church is made up of many individuals, it must of necessity function as a unit. Every member of the body must, of necessity, function as a unit. Moreover, every member needs, therefore, to strive to maintain the unity of the body throughout the world (Philippians 1:27; John 15:1-8).
In our text (verse 3), we see that Church unity came under severe attacks in Corinth by the springing up of factions. Worse still, these factions pitched themselves against one another. The leaders behind these divisions were only acting selfishly in the use of their knowledge and spiritual gifts for self-promotion against the interests of perceived rivals. Some openly promoted false doctrines and heresies, to advance their “superior knowledge:” Some others exhibited their carnality by promoting “Paul/Apollos” followership (1 Corinthians 3:4-6). To this, the apostles frowned seriously at and warned them of the dangers inherent in such unhealthy development.
The same virus has eaten more deeply into the very foundation of the Church today. Otherwise, what could have informed the unwholesome spreading of all manners of denominations of the present day? This has caused more harm than good to the balanced spiritual growth of the Body of Christ the world over.
In our text, Paul instructed that they should put aside divisions and all forms of rivalry. To the apostle, the Church is one body, a oneness symbolized in the Lord’s Supper. Paul finally pleads for the unity of the Church in Corinth, as the only healthy thing to do. In the same manner, members of the Church today, irrespective of denominations, ought to put as much emphasis on unity as Paul did in his letter to the Corinthian Church. All Christian Church members are one in Christ because they all obediently follow the teachings of the Great Master, through the Holy Spirit-inspired word of God (John 12:48). In other words, the Church is a body of many individuals who have submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Let believers in Christ beware. The seed of disunity is one terrible cankerworm Satan has planted to eat down the Church. The Lord Jesus is worried for His Church. It’s time to do a re-think, for the better.
- Some say, “I am for Paul. Some others say, “I am for Apollos” What about you?
- Lord Jesus, you died, so the Church will be raptured as one body. Give us the grace to unite.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 50:1-11; Amos 7:1-9; Luke 9:10-17
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 27 January 2023
