Paul’s Appeal, Jesus’s Command
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“Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank Godthat I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.” ( 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 NRSV)
Apostle Paul made this passionate appeal to the Church in Corinth; and made a similar appeal to the Church in Ephesus.
READ Ephesians 4:1-16
“ I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.”
(When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.”(Ephesians 4:1-16 NRSV)
This text, titled “Unity In The Body of Christ” ended stating,
“But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.”
We all must speak the truth, but in Love, and grow into Christ, joined and interwoven (knit) together; and as each part is working properly promotes the body’s growth, in Love.
It starts by speaking the truth, in Love; and aimed at the promoting the body’s growth, also in Love.
The unity we require in the church requires that love underlies everything we do. The love for God first, which begets the love for our fellow humans.
According to Jesus, this is the greatest commandment.
Based on the above, I daresay, anyone who fuels divisions in the Church loves something else, but not God!
Jesus also, while preparing His disciples for His impending death, washed His disciples’ feet, and told them to do the same to one another; then told them,
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Are we truly Jesus’ disciples? Are people seeing us as Jesus’ disciples through our love for one another?
We need to stop loving self and selfish ambitions; and start loving God, and the Godly ambition of loving one another. Our unity depends on it.
MEMORY VERSE
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
QUESTIONS
1. Are you a believer, and a disciple of Jesus?
2. Do you demonstrate it by your love for God, which compels you to love others?
PRAYER TIP
God Almighty, I know I don’t love you enough. Please help me to love you more, and so love others as well.
Written by:
BENNY MALM
For:
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