Daily Devotion, May 8, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-7, 18-23.

Can you imagine Paul’s disappointment when he learns that the Christians in Corinth are all divided up and quarreling? And to make matters worse, they have aligned themselves with him, Apollos, or Peter as their favorite, perhaps the one whose teachings led them to Christ. Paul urges them to stop this and to realize that leaders like himself build on what others do. The important thing is that they (and we) are followers of Christ, not followers of human leaders or preachers.

Today, we can be just as immature as those Corinthians when we become divided and argue with other Christians. It is great to be a United Methodist, but all Christian denominations have validity. Other denominations have beliefs and practices that are different from ours because they have interpreted Scripture differently, and they are doing what they think is right, just as we are. Wesley would say let there be “unity in the essentials” (agree on basic Christian beliefs), “liberty in the non-essentials,” (agree to believe differently on those things that are not essential to our salvation), and “show love in everything.” This is exactly what Paul is teaching in today’s passage.

Personal Worship Option:

Please pray with me: Lord, help me to find commonality with others in our church and with Christians in other churches and denominations. When I am tempted to debate about why my beliefs are correct, help me to listen to others, to learn, and to grow in my own faith. Amen.