Daily Bible Reading - 1 Kings 17, Jeremiah 43, 1 Corinthians 1-2
United (1 Corinthians 1:4-10)
This week someone from a previous church I worked at called me and said that the leadership was encouraging and building up the person that took over for me by belittling the success and achievements we had when we were there. Many thoughts filled my head as I heard this and I thought to myself, "what a sad place we have come to if the only way we can encourage someone else in the body of Christ is by tearing someone else down and down playing their achievements and success".
Corinthians is such a powerful book right from the start and combats this ugly spirit that is still finding its way into the church. It is so subtle to those that may happen to hear the person saying it but to the one that is a part of it it is loud and clear and they are well aware of what they are doing. So the warning comes to us in 1 Corinthians 1:10, "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." It is saying that God desires for us to be as a family flowing and working together. If thee are issues with one another than we bring them to each other and work things out (Matthew 18:15).
A powerful part of staying in unity with the body of Christ is simply not speaking anything negative at all. Or in this case celebrating the success of others and not trying to build someone else up by tearing someone else down. Not only does that harm the body of Christ but it gives the person doing it a bad name. Romans 12 specifically addresses the fact that we are one body and that although we are all playing different parts in that body no one is better than the other. So therefore we encourage one another with positive words of edification both privately and publicly.
1 Corinthians 1:4 it shows us the best way to treat each other as it says, "I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,". Paul is writing here to address the conflict between the church in Corinth and as he does he starts by giving thanks for the gift that each person is to the body of Christ. WOW! What a powerful principle for us to learn here today. He does not bash anyone or belittle anyone in order to encourage, build up, or edify someone else. He simply says, "hey guys we are all vital to the kingdom of God and we all have a part to play and I am so thankful for the part you are playing". Paul realized that each person was essential to the purpose of God and therefore would not bash or belittle anyone or their achievements.
What we must understand is that if we belittle someones contribution and success in the kingdom of God we are actually bashing our own body (Romans 12) and the bride of Jesus Christ. Understanding this makes me want to be more like Paul and always focus on the grace of God in peoples lives and realize what a gift they are to the body of Christ. When we do this we are united and we are becoming the pure spotless bride that Jesus is desiring to return for.
So today, let the Word of God dwell in your heart, build someone else up today with encouraging words and gratitude for their contribution to the Kingdom of God.
Thanks for listening.
Tomorrows Bible Reading - 1 Kings 18, Jeremiah 44, 1 Corinthians 3
Dream Big
Ben
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Saturday, August 22, 2009
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1 comment:
Good word. We focus a lot on unity within our own church, and not enough on unity with the body of christ as a whole. I think it is important to recognize that just because one pastor or one church does it different, doesn't mean it is better or worse. It is just a different flavor to reach different people.
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