1 Corinthians 1:12–13: 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.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Divisions were being caused by believers following different leaders of the church. They formed cliques around certain men. In one group were the proud pupils of Paul; in another the adoring admirers of Apollos, and there were some who liked Simon Peter, or Cephas, and they formed the chummy cult of Cephas. A fourth group was saying, “We are of Christ.” They were not actually putting Christ first, but they were the super–duper spiritual group. They had their little clique in the church, and they excluded other believers. They were the spiritual snobs. Do you realize that you and I are living in a day when the church has been destroyed from the inside? The problems are not on the outside today. If the man in the pulpit is sound in the faith, you’ll find troublemakers in the pew. That is where strife is stirred up. This does more damage to the cause of Christ than alcohol or atheism or worldliness. 1
Application
- Examine your own heart. Are you creating a spiritual tug-of-war by promoting a competing spirit between leaders and the members of a fellowship, instead of a serving spirit with a pure motivation under the Lordship of Jesus?
- Is your desire to be a friend…more important than your desire to be faithful?
Thought to Share
The only thing I want to stir up is love and good works. | TWEET IT
Prayer
Lord, help me to never have a divided heart towards you or others.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (1 Corinthians) (electronic ed., Vol. 44). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
