Read Judges 3
Read 1 Corinthians 3
I think that all people (and especially church workers) should remember to give God the credit for what he has done and what he still does. The Corinthian church was dealing with a lot of division. The problem was that everyone wanted to give too much credit to men, and in the process, divided the Body of Christ with their sin. They bickered and fought. They felt superior and acted judgmentally. They were a church that was falling to pieces.
And the main problem was that they were giving men too much credit. Now, mind you, these were incredible, godly men: Paul, Peter, Apollos! These are the heroes of faith, champions of the cross, preachers extraordinaire!
But Paul says that God is the one who made the growth. God used Paul to plant seeds of faith through the preaching of the Word. God used Apollos to water and nurture those seeds through the preaching of the Word. But in the end, we see that it is the Word, and therefore God Himself, who is responsible for the growth. God had created faith, made it grow, unified the church in Corinth, and strengthened them for holy living, and blessed them beyond imagination with forgiveness and life!
Do we give men too much credit? Do we give ourselves too much credit? Are we puffed up with conceit, thinking that we are better and more important than we really are? Are we causing division rather than building up?
Those are some things to think about.
But also think about this: Jesus Christ is the foundation. He is the foundation of the church and also of your life. It is He who Paul proclaimed, and it is He who continues to be preached to this day. Jesus, sacrificed on the cross for your sin and risen from the dead for your life - He is the one upon which you and the whole Church are built. Yes, "Our life, inheritance, and authority have their source in Jesus, who has His source in the Father from eternity" (TLSB p. 1951).
Now that is something to be grateful for. And with a humble thankfulness, we pray:
"O Holy Spirit, enter in, and in our hearts Your work begin, Your dwelling place now make us."
(LSB 913:1)
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
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