God Gave the Growth

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labour of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (I Cor. 3:6-9)  It might be something of a stretch to say that Paul would have made a good Methodist, but he certainly would have understood connectional ministry.  Anyone under appointment to a local church certainly has reaped the benefits of the hard work of others while beginning ministries that only flourish under those who follow.  It is just the way that it works.  And the reason for that is because only God “gives the growth.”  You and I can do many things in the church but they all come to nothing without the work of Jesus who is the Lord of Life.  The good news is that Christ calls all of us to be at work even as He is working in each of us.  It is for this reason that we need never despair nor give up.  Be encouraged: on our best days and worst days, the Lord of life is doing remarkable things in our midst.