Reading the book of 1 Corinthians was like reading a long,
heartfelt letter to a church that had potential—but was messy. Very messy. I
found myself shaking my head at some of what they were dealing with, and then
pausing—because I saw us in them. I saw me in them.
This church had gifts. They had knowledge. They had passion.
But they also had drama, division, pride, confusion, and sin that was not even
being addressed. Paul had his hands full. And honestly, I could feel his
frustration, but I could also feel his deep care.
What struck me most was how Paul started the letter. With
grace. With thanksgiving. He acknowledged who they were in Christ before
getting into what they were doing wrong. That stood out to me. He did not just
come in swinging—he reminded them of their identity first. That was powerful. I
need to remember that when I deal with others—and when God deals with me.
Identity before correction.
But then? Whew. Paul went in. There were cliques in the
church. People choosing sides—“I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos”—and Paul was
like, “Did any of us die for you?” That part hit hard. How often do we
elevate personalities over Christ? It reminded me that the church cannot afford
to be divided over human leaders. We are supposed to be united in Jesus.
Then there was the issue of immorality—and not just any
immorality. The kind that even the outside world side-eyed. And the church was
proud, like they were being “gracious.” Paul said, “No. You need to deal
with that.” That was convicting. Sometimes we hide behind words like “love”
or “grace” when really, we are just avoiding confrontation. But love does not
ignore sin—it addresses it in truth.
There were parts that made me uncomfortable. I had to
wrestle with what Paul said about women, about marriage, about head coverings,
about the Lord’s Supper. Some of it felt like a cultural clash. Some of it, I
had to sit with. But I appreciated how Paul kept bringing it back to love. Love
was the thread that held the whole letter together.
And 1 Corinthians 13? The love chapter? It hit different in
context. It was not a cute wedding verse—it was a rebuke. Paul was basically
saying, “You are gifted, but you are missing love. And if you do not have
love, you have nothing.” That made me stop and check my own heart. Am I
using my gifts to build up others, or to be seen? Am I walking in real love, or
just spiritual performance?
By the time I got to the end, with Paul talking about
resurrection and the mystery of our transformation, I felt renewed. There is
hope. There is more. And even though this church had a lot to work through,
Paul believed in what God was doing in them.
Reading 1 Corinthians reminded me that church is beautiful
and broken. That correction is a form of care. That love is the highest
calling. And that grace never runs out—but it also never leaves us where we
are.