daily bible readings

Often what happens in congregations across the land, if not across the world, is what could be called, the carpark hustle. A decision is made in a church environment that, as always, will please some and displease others. At the end of the meeting, those who disagree with the decision hustle through the carpark looking for anyone they can tisk, tisk, tisk, to. They seek an audience to complain to and to share their own better ideas and thoughts.

Unfortunately, this carpark shuffle causes nothing but corrosion, rot, and disunity in the church. It really is a sinful heart that ultimately leads to the ruin of the church. When people refuse to share their concerns and issues in a meeting, they forfeit the right to complain afterwards. When people do share and the vote goes against them, the godly attitude is to support the decision.

In fact, this is such a high priority for Paul that he begins the letter proper, after the usual salutations and greetings, by speaking about unity. Paul talks about unity in the strongest of terms and raises the bar high, very high. Paul is not calling for a consenting head nod but for a lifestyle commitment to the decisions made in the church.

In verse 10, Paul writes, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

Paul begins by appealing to the Corinthians. The Greek word used here is the same root word used of the Holy Spirit in John 14 where the Spirit is called an Advocate or Counsellor. Paul opens his heart wide to the Corinthians and begs for them to come to unity.

But, before Paul calls them to unity, he mentions the name of Jesus Christ., who was “given the name above all names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10–11. There is simply no higher name by which Paul could have pleaded through. The issue is so great that Paul goes straight to the top. Had Paul been interested only in mere outward conformity, he could have used his own name or his Apostleship. But, Paul is deadly serious about unity and calls on the name above all names for his plea for unity.

The call from Paul is that the church agree with one another and that there be no divisions among them. Paul is not open to even just 10% being on the fringe. 1% on the fringe is too much for Paul. He wants them to agree so that there is no divisions among them. The word no cannot be expunged or explained away. It sets the standard very high.

Finally, Paul calls them to be perfectly united in mind and thought. While the word ‘perfectly’ might be used in a different sense in different translations, the meaning or the sense of the phrase is clear. Paul beseeches the Corinthians to come to the point where they are of the same mind and thought about the issues among them.

With the bar being high, very high, verse 10 may seem an impossible task. It may appear a pie-in-the-sky dream that is completely unreachable. We may settle for partial unity and allow the disgruntled few to grumble softly around the edges. As we push on through this week, we will discover more ways that we can grow in unity and oneness rather than settling for mediocrity.

PRAYER

Adoration:

· Adore our triune God that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are totally unified in all things and have no quarrels or arguments or disagreements between them.

· Adore God that the unity of the Godhead is our surety, comfort and confidence in this world.

Confession:

· Take time to confess your sins to the Lord and to ask for forgiveness.

Thanks:

· Thank God for the unity that you do already have in your congregation.

· Thank God that He loves you and your congregation, lavishing each individual believer with love, grace and mercy.

Supplication:

· Pray that as we study through this passage that we would joyfully set the bar high, very high, when it comes to unity and oneness.

· Pray that the Lord would allow any differences to be sorted out and dealt with in a godly and honouring way.

· Pray that God would work powerfully in and through your congregation.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Why is Paul so strong and assertive in his call for unity?

2. Paul calls for unity but does not expect everyone to be the same. How is this possible?