June 24 – 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

June 24 – 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Dear Father, we come before You in praise and with thanksgiving for You give us our ‘But God’ moments. You orchestrate our lives for Your glory. May we in our quiet time recognize You for who You are: our Lord God, the God of Israel.

First, do your own quiet time and 4R journaling.  When you are completed, come back here for the lesson.

Request God’s help

Read  1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Record a verse that stands out to you

Respond to God

But God gives growth

My husband’s current favorite phrase in jest is, “It gives opportunity for growth” when faced with adversity or challenge of any kind.  And isn’t that just so true.  Every opportunity that seems to be pushing back on us, it offers the chance to grow.  Divisions in the church are no different.

The first two chapters in 1 Corinthians are about just that, divisions in the church. Paul calls on the Corinthians to unite in the same mind and the same judgement in chapter one.  In chapter 3, we see further division evidenced by the people choosing which human to follow.  Paul reminded them that he and Apollos were just servants of God, no one to follow and claim allegiance to.

Paul’s role was to plant the seed and Apollos to water them.  So which of them caused the seeds to grow? Neither! It was God alone who caused the growth.  Remember a few days ago we talked about God growing seeds as they were intended?  So who should the Christians of Corinth follow?  Yup, God! Paul reminded them that it was only by the grace of God that he was laying the foundation of faith. The work of changing hearts and bringing people to spiritual life? That can only be given in grace by God.  Paul is once again pointing people away from himself and back to God.  Giving the glory and praise to whom it should be given. In verse 11, he reminds them that only Christ is the foundation, not Paul or Apollos! They did not design the foundation, only laid it as God directed.  See, everything points back to God.

Take a moment to think about a person(s) who planted your faith seed and watered it.  Should you in turn follow them?  Of course not!  What was true of the Corinth church holds true today. The only one we should be following is God Himself. We cannot follow human beings and pledge allegiance to them as if they are above God.  They are mere servants of God and they serve God knowing He alone is the head of the body.  Following only God will lead to unity within the church. When we lose sight of who the Head of the church is, or when we elevate a particular person to a position that is dangerously high, then we forget the one who is actually the head of the Church, God.

May we keep our eyes fixed on He who made the body, and may we unite together in one Spirit.
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.”

Psalm 118:22

(Further Reading: Romans 9:15-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 1:18)

Dear Lord, we praise You for You alone formed us, for in Jesus we find Salvation!  We thank You for the permanence of grace, that it cannot be ripped from us.

What’s next?

As the Spirit leads, in the comment section below, share what He has laid on your heart.

Then join us again tomorrow for the next commentary.

My Verse: 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”