1 Corinthians 1: 10-18
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloes’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized Into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel–not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
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. For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
A Thought
After becoming a member of the body of Christ, we should all be working in unity together to give the message of forgiveness made possible by the power of the life, death, and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus the Christ. God has given spiritual gifts to his children not by human intellect or wisdom but by the power of the Holy Spirit: Some will be apostles, some prophets, some teachers, some workers of miracles, some healers, some different kinds of tongues, some will do service for others, but all will be done in faith, unity and with love for the common good by the power of God’s Spirit. The wisdom and intellect of man will pass away, but his word will stand as truth eternally.
Our Prayer
Father thank you for giving us Jesus the Christ as our perfect example to follow. Thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit that is given by faith to all who will receive it to accomplish your will on earth as it is in heaven. Help us to work together in unity for the common good of all. We desire to be you ministers of the gospel with power in whatever way you equip us to work together for your kingdom. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
