Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 11:18
One of the problems with the Christians in Corinth was that there were divisions among them. God had Paul write this in 1 Corinthians 11:18: “For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.” The reason Paul had no problem believing that there were divisions among the believers in Corinth was that God had already led Paul to write to them in 1 Corinthians 1:10–17 about the theological divisions they had among themselves. In 1 Corinthians 1, we learned how they had been arguing over who was better, Paul, Apollos, or Cephas, since all three of these men had been used by God Almighty to lead several people in Corinth into a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. As God led Paul to write in 1 Corinthians 11, we see that the problem of division was evident in the Corinthian Christians during their worship gatherings. God knows that we have weaknesses, but He also expects us to crucify our fleshly desires and not give in to them. God tells us in Romans 6:6 “that our old self was crucified with Christ in order that our body of sin might be rendered powerless so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.” So, God expects us to live a life that honors Him, where division does not exist and we live to serve one another, just as Christ came to serve and not be served. Division among believers dishonors, but unity honors Him and others.
Challenge & Application
What does God expect from us as we gather together as believers to worship Him?
How do we guard against divisions within the body of believers?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!