The Daily Word: Friday, August 18th, 2017
Esther 1:1-3:15
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Psalm 35:17-28
Proverbs 21:19-20
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. – 1 Cor 11:17-18
There was drama in the church at Corinth! Paul wrote to the early church, expressing his disgust at the way they spent time together. After all, they were Christian! Yet instead of coming together to worship God in spirit and in truth – united together as one – they were divided. There were factions among them (v 19). They didn’t even eat communion together (21)! They ignored the tremendous focus Jesus has on unity and reconciliation.
Paul did not hold punches as he issued an important reminder: church should be drama-free. Divisions in the church are damaging. Paul cautioned that when we experience divisiveness in church, it is not “for the better but for the worse” (v 17). It not only hinders the move of God through His body; it also contaminates the image we project to the rest of the world about who Jesus really is!
Commit to loving the people in your church family, no matter how hard to love they can be. Pray that God would make His church drama-free, in Jesus’ name!
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. – Matthew 5:23-24
Prayer:
Father, let our churches be a reflection of Your love. Help us to sacrificially love others the way you first loved us. We rebuke all drama – both inside the church and out – in Jesus’ name!
Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.