October 1

1 Corinthians 1

Paul appeals for unity among the Corinthian believers.

INSIGHT

It has been said: God does the work of God and man does the work of man. Man cannot do the work of God. God will not do the work of man. Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthian believers certainly supports this. The Corinthian church had split into factions, following different men. Some said, “I follow Paul.” Others said, “I follow Apollos.” The most pious among them disdained to follow mere men and said, “I follow Christ.” Using the imagery of a husbandman, Paul says, “I planted (brought the message of salvation), Apollos watered (taught you more advanced things), but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Pursue the work of man with all diligence. And rest in the work of God.

PRAYER

Praise God for caring for the things that are out of your control:
Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
(Psalm 105:1-3)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me. (Psalm 19:12-13)

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
He is the Lord our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.
Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations.
(1 Chronicles 16:14-15)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

The fruit of the Spirit in your life
Those who minister in the inner cities
Whatever else is on your heart

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
And let them say among the nations,
“The Lord reigns.”…
Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
(1 Chronicles 16:31, 33)