Daily Devotional for Thursday, May 29

The Elevation of Human Leaders

“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,” 1 Corinthians 1:12

When I was five years old, our family started attending church. As I began attending Sunday School, worship services, mid-week services and other classes, I heard the gospel message. I did not just hear about Jesus from the pastor but also from my teachers and parents. They all played a part in leading me to Jesus; they all planted and watered the precious seeds of the gospel of Christ. “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7). So, I cannot say that it was just one person that led me to salvation, but I was saved by the grace of God.

It would seem that there was a problem in the Corinthian church in which some of the leaders were being elevated to a statis in which people became people followers as opposed to Christ followers, and it caused some contention among the brethren. Every leader in the Lord’s churches should unite people to Christ and not take His place (1 Corinthians 1:13). Some churches elevate their pastor to such a high position that he essentially can never be wrong and is able to lead the church away from the truth. It is not that pastors and leaders in the church should not be held in high esteem, but that they should never take the place of Christ and His Word but rather should be leading a person to Him. Paul later talked about people following him and his examples when he stated “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

REFLECTION

Be glad for those that led you to salvation but remember that you were not led to them, but to Jesus.

Tim Chambers