You were
- Made holy by God through Jesus Christ
- Enriched in gifts of utterance and knowledge by the grace of God given in Christ
- Yet distracted into divisions of allegiance to men-messengers and not focused on the Christ and the gospel that is our message
The passage in 1 Corinthians 1:2-11 raises questions for shepherds of God’s people as well as the followership.
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 1 Corinthians 1:2-11
So, dear shepherd, are you a steward of His grace, preaching yourself or the Lord Jesus Christ and His good news of salvation? Selah.
And for the followers, even as the testimony of Christ is confirmed by these gifts, only Christ can confirm you to the end, make you blameless unto the end, as you wait for His coming! As Jesus consecrated Himself to the Father, so are you required to consecrate yourself to Him, not to any man (John 17:19). True that we are to honour those who laboured amongst and over us, but we must not elevate them to replacing Christ with them, an inherent caution by Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1, imitate them only as their conduct and teaching imitate Christ’s. We are required to embody the virtues and mission of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Note verse 9 in particular – God who called me into fellowship/partnership with Jesus is faithful to make me blameless unto the end. Give God the opportunity to show Himself strong on your behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9 AMPC) as you fix your mind on the all-powerful, ever-present and loving heavenly Father (Psalm 55:22) and not on man!
Whatever the challenges that pose, feed your faith by feeding and meditating on the word (Psalm 119:143) and spend more time in prayer, moving closer to God (John 15:7-8). Instead of giving way to fear, stand strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10). Ephesians 3:20-21 should be your prayer today.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
Selah
Pastor Afolabi Oladele
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