Devotion:
Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.
The Apostle Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth in the first century that their focus needed to always be on Jesus Christ and what God had done through him on the cross and at Easter. (Of course, as this letter came to be seen by the Church as containing God’s message for all of God’s people for all time, it became part of our Bible.) When you look back in the first chapter of this letter, it is obvious that the people had become divided, focusing on the person through whom they had come to know Christ in their life. Paul reminds them that there was really nothing special about him, but that what he had accomplished was all due to the power of the Spirit working through him.
That’s the way it is for all of us. We all have gifts and relationships through which other people will hopefully come to know Jesus Christ. It may be tempting for them to think too highly of us. On the other side of that equation, we can be tempted to think too highly of people who have influenced our walk with Jesus. In both cases, it is important to keep our focus on Christ himself, to give him the glory and honor, the thanks and praise for what he did for all of us through his life of sacrifice, ultimately offered on the cross.
Our witness for him, both in how we live our life and how we tell about him, should always include his life of sacrifice and servanthood. Life after Easter includes remembering what Jesus did to get us to Easter.
Personal Worship Option:
Here is a suggested prayer for today. God of the cross and of Easter, forgive us when we lose our focus on Jesus and what he did to both show us your way and provide a way for us to be connected to you. Help us always to point people, not to ourselves, but to him. In his name, Amen.
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