Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God

20 August 2025

Reading From I Corinthians 3

“For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

“So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.”

—I Corinthians 3:4-7, 21-23

These factions following different leaders of the early church foreshadow our modern day denominations, movements and ministries. Paul brings clarity to this by pointing out that God uses these different personalities in unique ways and that they all have a role to play in building up the Kingdom of God. It’s not necessarily a matter of one is right and another is wrong, just different.

Sometimes we are the ones planting seeds of truth in people’s lives. This can happen in a multitude of ways, including being intentional in bringing Jesus into everyday conversations. Our God is real and involved in every aspect of our lives and so we should normalize talking about Him in ways that are natural and not weird.

Watering seeds can happen in ways similar to planting them, but I see this as more of a process rather than scattering and moving on. Watering takes more patience and requires the waterer to stick around a while to be sure a disciple is getting the spiritual refreshment and nutrients needed to grow healthy and strong. This could be leading a discipleship class, hosting a small group, meeting one on one for coffee and encouragement, etc. Whether we scatter seeds or tend the garden, God is the one who saves and sanctifies and grows us up to be more like Him. To Him belongs the glory.

“Lord, help us to value one another and glean from influential leaders You gave given us without idolizing them or being divisive about it. Give us discernment as we receive knowledge from one another. Help us to be patient and understanding with our brothers and sisters. In the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.”

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.—Hebrews 12:1-3