Aligning ourselves

Let there be no divisions in the church. —1 Corinthians 1:10b NLT

Paul is speaking to the church in Corinth not necessarily out of want, but need. Before tackling their problems (yep, they had them, too), the apostle assures these Christ followers what following Christ means: it isn’t their goody goody deeds that grant them an eternal life with their Savior; it is Christ at work in them that guarantees salvation.

This gets interesting when we consider our peacekeeping efforts. When the enemy divides us (and he does), we run the risk of attempting reunification on our own, as if our own problem-solving strategies that have worked in the past are all we need in the present.

This isn’t so, says Paul. Our gifts, including the peacekeeping ones, are accomplished not through our merits but God’s mercy being sown and shown through us. In other words, it is Christ in us who grows and glows us to be peacekeepers because when in Christ we think only of Christ, not ourselves.

When we align ourselves in Christ—and sometimes this is no easy task as we get ourselves in the way of his unifying his church—then boundless love not divisions exist.

PRAYER: Lord, help us get out of the way so that Your way in us and through us is sown and shown. Amen.