Spiritual Growth

Devotions for May 20, 2007

Proverbs 20
1 Corinthians 3

Scripture
"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? "

Observation
Paul had no problem sharing his disappointment with the church in Corinth. His expectation was that the followers of Jesus there would have started the spiritual growth process of becoming more like Jesus. However, there is great division within the church. The people are more oriented to the human leaders than they are toward God. Paul reminds them that the human leaders are nothing compared to God. It is God that is the author of all.

Paul uses a great analogy about building - the use of poor building materials that creates an unstable temple. The wood, hay, and straw are metaphors for the immaturity and vulnerability to wrong doctrine that describe people of Corinth. The building is only as strong as its foundation. Jesus is the only foundation that will last for eternity.

Application
I often feel that we get distracted by all the wrong things. It is easy to argue over controversial issues. Followers of Jesus will get so caught up in these arguments that we miss out on what it is that we are supposed to be doing - making disciples of Jesus.

Our goal is maturity - to become more like Jesus in every aspect of our lives. We don't need division. We need unity. I don't want any credit for the growth at Charter Oak Church. I want God to receive all the praise and glory, for it is he who makes us grow. I am God's fellow worker. I want us to be mature, open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and sold out to the teaching of Jesus.

Prayer
Almighty God, you are the author of life. You are the one who sent Jesus to give us true life. We have traded true living for trivial arguments and inferior building materials. Help us to set the world's way aside and place you at the very center of everything we do and say. Forgive us when we long for milk instead of solid food.

I pray that the people of Charter Oak Church will mature in a healthy development of following after Jesus. Help us to keep the main thing the main thing. Help us to be a church that plays for an audience of one. Give us all servant hearts that it will never be about any of us, but always all about you, God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.