Church United

Good Morning!

Can you believe it? One quarter of 2011 is in the books! It seems like just a few days ago we were celebrating Christmas and the New Year. How time flies.

We are continuing our study in 1st Corinthians tonight … hopefully finishing Chapter 3 and getting through all of Chapter 4. These four chapters have been devoted to Paul’s first “complaint” regarding the church at Corinth. It was a divided church – arguing over whose gospel was most correct. The result was a church that was hindered by its own divisiveness. I wonder how many churches today would fit into the Corinthian category.

Paul’s instruction to the church was to focus on the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. There is no greater message ever given to mankind than that of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ONLY way for man to be justified with God. What does that mean? Well, you and I can do a whole lot of good things … but we can never do enough to justify the rebellious nature that lives within us. Cain tried to do it … offering the “best” that he had … but they were not acceptable to God. Cain’s fruit and vegetable offering wasn’t acceptable because it was not a blood sacrifice. Abel’s sacrifice was a blood sacrifice so it was acceptable. Likewise, our good works are “bloodless” … only the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ is acceptable to God.

Are there legitimate disagreements that need to be addressed within a church body? Of course there are … but the primary focus of any gathering of believers is to fulfill God’s Commission. Sometimes that gets lost in the fray. An even greater commandment is that we love each other. You know, this life is tough … and even more tough if we don’t have loved ones. You and I are brothers and sisters in Christ … and we should love each other even if we don’t always agree.

You know, there are many things happening in this world today that could point to the coming of our Lord. If Jesus comes tomorrow, I hope He catches me sharing the gospel to someone who needs Him. Or, if not, I hope He finds a loving spirit being exhibited by me towards my fellow man.

Okay … so let’s get this last day of the first quarter of 2011 in the books.

Agape’


Mr. Jim