What, after all,
is Apollos? (Is it you?)
And what is Paul? (Is that me?)
Only servants,
through whom you came to believe
as the Lord has assigned to each his task. (Us!)
There no competition in the body of Christ.
Spring is here and the garden is a special quiet place for me and my children! I find rest even with all the physical labor! Something about tilling up the soil, reminds me how we need God to rotor till our hearts to receive his word (seed) and remove the deep rooted weeds (rocks). It always surprises me how rocks appear out of nowhere in the garden. Like physical rocks appear through working through life with God, spiritually removing strongholds we never knew were there! God continues to reach and teach us more! Every time we work life in relationship with Jesus, sometimes new springs up out of the Living word of God. Today, 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, stopped me in my tracks as I watered my garden in the window! I was wondering if this verse was talking about Christians competing with Christians. With all the media options out there, we all need to remember we are sisters and brothers in Christ! 1 Corinthians 1:10, “ I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. God has no favorites! (Romans 2:11).
I planted the seed,
Apollos watered it,
but God has been making it grow.
(God is the gardener! John 15)
So neither the one who plants
nor the one who waters is anything,
but only God,
who makes things grow.
(God is the one who does the work in us!)
(Philippians 1:6)
The one who plants
and the one who waters
have one purpose,
(Love God and Love others)
Matthew 22:36-40,
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 28:18-20
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9
and they will each be rewarded
according to their own labor.
For we are co-workers in God’s service;
you are God’s field,
God’s building.
(Ephesians 4)
Revelation 22:12
“Look, I am coming soon!
My reward is with me,
and I will give to each person
according to what they have done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.
(John 1)
I love this post, it brings to light that no matter who you are we are all rooted in Christ. There should be no competition and no ridicule for anyone’s opinion. We are all children of God and He is the gardner, Jesus is the branch and if we so choose to follow and obey the commands of the Lord then we will be fruitful and prosper. Thank you for your wisdom and beautiful garden pictures.
I noticed in my post, it said 1 Corinthians 4 and on my site it says, 1 Corinthians 13!
I love 1 Corinthians 13! Our 24th anniversary is coming up in May! We played Petra “Love” at our wedding! I love this verse because God teaches us what Love is! God loves us first! 1 John 4:19, It’s only through Jesus, we can love others people the way He loves us! Jesus everlasting love endures forever! Psalm 100:5