OUT OF FOCUS

OUT OF FOCUS!

1 Cor 12:18-22

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

Have you ever wondered why God created man with TWO eyes instead of just one? We accept it at face value but it bears investigation. Two eyes enable us to see both left and right and therefore clearly. Those with only a left or right view have a problem with depth perception and have limited peripheral vision. Although I may be very fond of my own opinion and philosophy, I may be seeing only part of the panorama. I need the eyes of others to see clearly.

There is a symbiotic partnership in the arrangement of the parts of the body. Each conducts its particular function so that the body may be whole and robust. The very idea of a particular part of the body rebelling against the rest is ludicrous and this is the very point of Paul in his message to the Corinthians.

1. They preferred one speaker over another!

1 Cor 1:11-13

11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Satan knows that a party spirit is a wonderful method of self destruction. When other methods fail this one has always proved to be effective.

2. Some were incomplete in their knowledge!

Acts 19:1-5

19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

It is clear that Apollonian teaching was incomplete. There would be no need to re-baptize true converts and the absence of Spirit graces indicated a deep deficiency.

(The) Spirit enlightens their minds, and convinces of sin, righteousness, and judgment; quickens their souls, witnesses to their conscience that they are the children of God, and purifies their hearts. Those who have not received these blessings from the Holy Spirit, whatever their profession may be, know nothing better than John's baptism: (from Adam Clarke's Commentary)

3. Most were carnal in their thinking and their practice!

1 Cor 3:3-7

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal ?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Carnal thought and practice fails to recognize and acknowledge the “higher” thought and “purer” practice of God.

Isa 55:9

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

If you are at odds with fellow believers over inconsequential differences of opinion, you may not be wrong but you certainly are not right. The damage done by the contention is far greater than the importance of the point of controversy. Hold to your view for you may be the LEFT eye but give allowance to the view of the RIGHT eye that you both may serve the body with a clear view.

Dear Lord, give balance and clarity to my life today that my place in the body of believers may promote unity and not strife. AMEN