Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 7:17b, where we read these words:
" . . . And so I ordain in all the churches."This little phrase (above), written by Paul, is an intriguing one. The Apostle did not teach one thing in one congregation, and another thing in another parish. There was uniformity and order to his instruction. The various church-es had different needs, challenges, and even giftedness—but they all receiv-ed consistent doctrinal and practical teaching—all focusing on Jesus Christ.
So it is to be, even today. Though there is room for variation in the churches, with regard to non-essentials—there is no room for deviation from the car-dinal truths of the gospel. Regrettably, this uniform commitment to core val-ues is not being practiced today, (as it was not totally the case in Paul's day, either). But still, the most faithful churches must, and will, take the lead—and keep Jesus front and center.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Men are by nature utterly careless about the glory of God. They have no degree of concern for it. A natural man never does any one thing out of true concern for the glory of God.” —Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "It is Well for us that God is Not as we are"]
