1 Corinthians 1 (4)

Pray Psalm 71.1-3.
In You, O LORD, I put my trust;
Let me never be put to shame.
Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape;
Incline Your ear to me, and save me.
Be my strong refuge,
To which I may resort continually;
You have given the commandment to save me,
For You are my rock and my fortress.

Sing Psalm 71.1-3.
(Solid Rock: My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less)
In You, O LORD, I refuge claim; O let me never be ashamed.
In righteousness deliver me; incline Your ear and hear my plea.
Refrain v. 3
A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
my Rock and Fortress ever be!

Read 1 Corinthians 1.1-17; meditate on verses 14-17.

Preparation
1. For what did Paul give thanks? Why?

2. What was his calling?

Meditation
The lesson from these verses is clear: Know what you are sent to do and do only that.

Paul wants it to be clear that he did not contribute to the spirit of division which had arisen in Corinth. He was not interested in attaching people to himself, for example, by baptizing them all. Others who followed him apparently kept a running tab of who and how many they had baptized. Was this a way of touting their ministry over that of others?

It is the practice of churches and ministries these days to find things to quantify. Converts, baptisms, new members, budgets, and so forth. Some of that can be helpful. But mostly it runs the risk of compromising the church’s mission as the Body of Christ. Jesus gives the increase where increase matters (Acts 2.47). We should leave that in His hands and not count our numbers as though they said something significant about us.

Paul was sent to preach. And not in clever words or words accessible only to those trained in the ways of wisdom. The Gospel is not rocket science. It’s the straightforward message of Jesus and the cross and the resurrection and His coming again. Paul was focused on his calling, not on counting noses at the end of the day. Jesus, he knew, would bring the power of His cross to bear on whom He would. And He did.

Paul had a specific calling from the Lord, just as each of us does. He was sent by Jesus, just as each of us is. He was to proclaim the Gospel by words and deeds, just as we are. We have no control over what God does with our labors. Like Paul, our duty is to focus on what we’ve been sent to do, and to make sure we do nothing to add to the shallow, schismatic, and self-vaunting tendencies of the age.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
To those of us who claim to be unable to minister properly or effectively, God says, “Good! You really can’t; and I’m glad you understand that. But I can, and together we will get this Good News out!”

Moses tried this very excuse: “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue” (Ex. 4.10). So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say” (Ex. 4.1l, 12; Prov. 20.12).

Whenever we are inclined to plead exemption from something we know God has called us to do, He does not try and dissuade us from that thought, He merely changes our focus to Himself and His power to overcome all our weaknesses. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12.9).

Our job is to be willing: “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4.2). All done in His power, strength, and authority.

We are never called to overshadow the Gospel. As John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3.30). The majesty of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection speaks for itself. We need only say it and get out of the way. He will draw whom He chooses to Himself—sans our oratorial skills.

Focused… “For the love of Christ compels us…” (2 Cor. 5.14).

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou my God, shouldst die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?
(Charles Wesley, 1738)

The cross of Christ loudly and clearly speaks!

For reflection
1. Have you ever said to the Lord, “Lord, I just can’t do that”? What would the Lord say to you?

2. What can you do to maintain focus on the Lord when you’re out and about in your Personal Mission Field?

3. Whom will you encourage today to keep their focus on Jesus and His cross and resurrection?

He rejoices, however, that it had happened otherwise, and acknowledges it as having been so ordered, in the providence of God, that they might not take occasion from that to glory in him, or that he might not bear any resemblance to those ambitious men who endeavored in this way to catch followers. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1.14

Pray Psalm 71.14-18.
Ask God to give you a renewed focus on His calling for you. Pray for those to whom He sends you. Pray that He will keep you focused on your work, not His. And make sure, whatever you do, Jesus is exalted by it.

Sing Psalm 71.14-18.
(Solid Rock: My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less)
But as for me my voice I raise to sing in hope and constant praise!
With saving grace my voice will swell Your never-ending grace to tell.
Refrain v. 3
A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
my Rock and Fortress ever be!

O LORD, I praise Your righteousness Who me from youth have taught and blessed.
Forsake me not when I am old,‘til I Your mercies all have told!
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth needed revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today needs revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.