The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 1 February 2020 – TOPIC: DIVISION IS SIN
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DATE: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2020
TOPIC: DIVISION IS SIN
READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-17 (NKJV)
10. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you, but [that] you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s [household,] that there are contentions among you.
12. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
13. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14. I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15. lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.
16. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
17. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
THE MESSAGE:
The Corinthian Church was endowed with many Spiritual gifts (verses 5-7), but it was a problematic Church: Some members had committed sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1). It was a divided Church –at least four groups were mentioned from today’s passage (1 Corinthians 1:12-13; cf. 3:3-7). Some claimed to belong to Paul because he was a preacher of the gospel of grace, of Christian freedom and the end of the law. Others belonged to Apollos because he was an administrator and also an eloquent and passionate preacher. Cephas’ supporters were most likely Jews who insisted on the observance of the Jewish law. There were those who self-righteously claimed to follow Christ. These groups probably considered themselves the true Christians; and the Church was divided along these personalities. All those who were supporting particular parties in the Church were relying on human thinking and ignoring God’s desire that the body of Christ be united (John 17:20-23).
We still make the same mistake today. We frequently witness Church divisions based on factors such as age, education, class, loyalty to the pastors, ethnicity, etc. Such divisions are wrong. Examine yourself now and make sure that you are not an instrument of division in the Church. If you are, kindly repent and ask God for forgiveness. Remember, division is one of the things the Lord hates and it is an abomination before Him (Proverbs 6:16-19).
PRAYER: : Heavenly Father, deliver Your Church from party spirit; and may unity overcome division in Jesus Name, Amen.