Today's Reading:Old Testament:
Judges 10 - 12
New Testament:
1 Corinthians 3
Focus Verses: 1 Cor. 3:5-8
5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
Insight:
Christians can be too concerned with loyalties to a certain teacher, tradition, or denomination. "I am of Apollos" and "I am of Paul" both sound very similar to the way people try identify themselves today – “I am protestant,” “I am Calvinist,” “I am nondenominational,” “I am of Pastor P----,” “I am of Pastor B---,” “I am Lutheran,” “I am evangelical.” God is the one who makes the seed of faith grow. Teachers, traditions, and denominations should only serve to lead us to God and to mature in our faith and devotion to Christ.
Response and Action:
While I value specific individuals, writers, teachers, groups, ministries, and denominations, I must not allow this appreciation to turn into something divisive. My loyalty is to Christ Jesus and I embrace his church in it’s entirety. Those who plant and water the seeds of faith in my life deserve my thanks and love, but they would be dishonored if my loyalty to them overshadowed my loyalty for Christ and my desire to see all who follow him to be united in testimony and fellowship.
O God, I believe in one, holy, and universal church. I thank you for the men and women who have planted and watered the seeds of faith in me. Thank you for their examples, teachings, and writings. Help me to demonstrate true appreciation for them by placing my faith and commitment in Christ, rather than them. Amen.
Proverbs: 15:33
"The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor."
Resources:
Mere Christianity
by C.S. Lewis
