1 Corinthians 1:10-18 (NRSV)
Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 on biblegateway.com
Verse 10Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. Verse 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. Verse 12What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Verse 13Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Verse 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, Verse 15so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. Verse 16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
Verse 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. Verse 18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Devotion
“United in the same mind and the same purpose”? Right. It has been reported by some that there are quarrels among us too. Is the Apostle still alive and well in his writing to us? In our world of branding allegiances, in our religious affiliations and in our national pride, the Gospel fights to break through. Could it be that the power of the cross is made evident not by our elaborate words and self-justifying cases, but by our united faithfulness to follow in the ways of Jesus?
It has been said, “It’s one thing to say you love Jesus. It’s quite another to love the people Jesus loved.” Foolishness? Not at all. Rather, the power and wisdom of God.
Prayer
Most Holy God,
Today we seek to do your will
Like a city on a hill
Praying we will catch a vision
Of all that we can be. Amen.