ESOCS Devotional 9 September 2024 – The Cross vs The World
MEMORY VERSE: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-25
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. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 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.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
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It doesn’t take one very long to look around and realize that we live in a very divided world. Social issues, political views and the ability for people to project their opinions into the public sphere through social media have allowed for discord and disagreement to become the norm, rather than the exception. To try and exist in the public marketplace engenders conflict at the smallest difference in opinion.
Some of the worst disagreements can come within the church itself. How many times has a church gathering or committee meeting devolved into fighting and screaming, simply because someone brought up the idea to change the carpet or add lights to the sanctuary? The people of God – those who are supposed to be unified under the banner of King Jesus – are often the worst offenders of unity!
In our media-saturated, conflict-infested world, one may think that this situation began only in our time, and is getting worse by the day. However, Apostle Paul shows us that this lack of unity had existed since the first days of the church! In his first letter to the church in the city of Corinth, he treated the issue of conflict and disunity in the church.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
When we fully grasp the amazing love that Jesus has for us, and how He died for each one that we live in community with, we can begin to see them as children of God instead of enemies. Only when we start from the common ground of Jesus our King can we truly see our differences in a new way. When we see each other as precious in the sight of God, we see how truly foolish our problems with one another are, and we can work together in unity to bring hope to the world.
- How will you handle your own conflict and issues differently, knowing that those you disagree with are children of God?
- Jesus, I pray that you will unite your church. Forgive me for often choosing to follow the banner of my views instead of living in unity with you. Help me and my church to be a change agent in a world that needs unity among diverse people. Guide me to lead the way in choosing Jesus’ way when I face conflict and disagreement in my daily life. Above all, help me to honour you in my unity with others!
Further Reading: Haggai 1:12-2, 9; Isaiah 6:1-7; Rev. 7:1-17
ESOCS Devotional 9 September 2024
