1 Corinthians 1:10-18 (NRSV)
Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 on biblegateway.com
Verse 10Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. Verse 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. Verse 12What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Verse 13Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Verse 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, Verse 15so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. Verse 16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
Verse 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. Verse 18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Devotion
Paul is urging the Corinthian community, which is filled with many divisions and petty quarrels, to live in peace, united in the same mind and the same purpose. I remember learning the Hebrew words to Psalm 133 in my Psalm class at Luther Seminary taught by Professor Jim Limburg. We joined hands in a circle and sang—He nay ma tov oo ma nahim shevet acheem gam yah chahd—which translates, "How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in unity" (Good News Translation). I've taught these words in song and dance to many groups through the years. It is indeed wonderful for God’s people to dwell together in unity and to have the same purpose of proclaiming the good news of Jesus to the entire world. It was what Paul was praying for the community in Corinth and also for us.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, take us away from petty quarrels and divisions and teach us to live together in unity and joy as we belong to you. Amen.