Pocket Thoughts - 10/23/26

The enemy delights to see division in the church. His efforts to topple God’s kingdom appear as though they’re succeeding when he sees believers quarreling over issues that splinter them, rather than giving grace to and pursuing harmony with one another.

God has provided the unity of the church as a model to the world of His one-day-coming kingdom and as a gift to the body of Christ to be a peaceful, restful haven against the assaults of the world. This unity is one of His many gifts, but there have been divisions almost from the church’s inception.

In 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul writes a letter to the church in Corinth, whose reputation for quarreling has reached him across the Aegean Sea and hundreds of miles away. Paul is distressed by the fact that things God has intended as blessings have become points of contention. He rebukes this relatively young congregation for defaulting to pride and arguing instead of humility and grace. He reminds them of some key things for which they should be grateful, and those same things often cause contention for God’s church today.

Like the Corinthian church, we have exposure to many preachers and teachers. We may prefer a particular speaking style or way of presenting the Word. If the words preached or taught correctly elevate Jesus as Lord and hold Him out as the only way to salvation, we stand united in Christ.

Each believer is gifted with essential talents and skills necessary for the full, proper functioning of the body of Christ. If we recognize and praise God for the many different ways He equips the saints and we hold each one in equal esteem, we stand united in Christ.

We may be blessed by a particular style or order of worship. If the worship adheres to biblical, solid truths about the character and work of our God, we stand united in Christ.

We may interact with people within the walls of our churches and stand in the midst of a variety of economic backgrounds, varied family backgrounds, different skin tones, unique accents, and various life stages. If we stand in awe and appreciation of God’s beautiful diversity, we stand united in Christ.

When we stumble on these or any other number of issues that aren’t essential to the gospel, we face the same possible result Paul warned the Corinthians about. We’re called to live in unity as a blessing to our church family, as a witness to the watching world, and to honor and glorify the God of all unity – “lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:17b) Brothers and sisters, drop your arms against each other in preferences and secondary matters, and stand united in Christ – the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

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God of all unity, I praise You! Thank You for providing the church as a beautiful model of harmony and peace. Just as You – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – dwell in perfect fellowship, You’ve gifted Your church with the fellowship of the saints. Lord, forgive me when I elevate my own preferences and opinions over the preferences and opinions of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to defer in humility and grace – focused on the truths found in Your Word. Protect me from the enemy and his deceitful schemes. Holy Spirit, help me to recognize his traps. Give me wisdom, and empower me to resist any of his efforts to fracture the unity You’ve provided among Your children. Thank You, Father, for the gift of this family. Help me to treasure and protect it until we all arrive safely Home to be with You forever, knowing this is made possible only through faith in Christ alone. I pray these things in His beautiful Name. Amen.