Unity Amidst Division – The Presidential Prayer Team

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours. – 1 Corinthians 3:21

Paul describes a situation in the early church that resembles the denominational church today. They argued about what preacher they were following—Apollos, Paul, or Cephas. Paul pointed out that they were behaving as merely human and not truly spiritual people. Each minister did his part, which Paul compares to some planting and some watering. The main thing is that believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit, worshiping one God through the redemptive work of Christ. Paul said not to boast about which man they followed because they are all there to help you follow Jesus. “All are yours, and you are of Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Corinthians 3:22-23).

Some have turned away from a denominational church and then, in a sense, created a denomination of non-denominationalism. Unity is an important issue. Relationships are a challenge even when a group of believers agrees on every point of doctrine. Even Paul and Barnabas had an argument so sharp they ended up serving God separately (Acts 15:35-41). To the Philippians, Paul said that though some people preached with wrong motives, he still rejoiced because Christ was preached (Philippians 1:18). Despite doctrinal differences, God’s people are called to love each other and treat each other with respect.

Believers, and the people of the United States as a whole, must realize that disagreeing with someone does not automatically mean you hate them. Pray for the unity of the Church. Pray that American citizens would turn to the Lord to learn to communicate with each other with loving and gracious attitudes and actions.

Today’s Verse: 1 Corinthians 3:21

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Ephesians 4:1-16

4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ²with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
    and he gave gifts to men.”

⁹(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? ¹⁰He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹²to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. ¹⁵Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.