CONTINUUM
Part 11 of 12 Celebrating Scripture Series
1Corinthians 1:12
“What I mean is this: One of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow Cephas’; still another, ‘I follow Christ.’”
“You just don’t get it! I’m glad that I didn’t baptize you! Who died on the cross for you?” Paul exploded. “We follow, and worship only Christ!” How did the infant Christian church survive after the original apostles died? Jesus assured them in John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
Continuum (con-TIN-u-um) means range, length, extent. A perfect title for this devotion, because we’ll see how God never fails. He always has a plan. While Jesus is in heaven for a time, He’s omnipresent—which means that He is everywhere. Jesus isn’t visible, but He IS right here. When the Holy Spirit arrived (Acts 2), the disciples immediately got busy. (See Gathered Together devotion).
But, who took over when all the disciples died? How would the church survive, grow, or even dare to prosper? Jesus assigned them (and us) work (Matthew 28:19). The whole world needs to be told the Good News: Jesus’ death offers forgives of sins, and eternal life to whomever believes in Him!
The original disciples taught scores of students. These new disciples were approved for service to carry the torch of Christ. Continuum means that there’s a way. Paul’s enlisted protégées (pro-to-JAYS mean people taught to be like the original) are sprinkled throughout his many books and epistles (letters). Paul’s churches were thriving, and church heads invented a new leadership position to supply pastoral guidance.
Bishops, or overseers, were appointed to carry on the work. Titus 1:7-8 describes a bishop’s qualities that make him suitable for the job: “Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.”
Bishops had help, just like your Pastor, Priest, or Rabbi has a congregation (con-gre-GA-shon means worshipers) who assist him. Timothy, Erastus, Silas, Apollos, Aquila, Priscilla, are specifically mentioned in Acts 18 and19, Romans 16:3, 3:5-15, and 1Corinthians, 16:10-19. How many more remain nameless?
Workers are everywhere! God’s Spirit is released on His kids right now—and He’s nagging us to get on with it!
Take Home Nugget
When God’s work seems overwhelming, believers still willingly step up to do whatever’s necessary.
The disciples had a short time to accomplish Jesus’ assignment. 33 years after Jesus ascended to heaven, Peter and Paul had also gone home.
Jesus set us examples of doing good.
We follow Him when helping wherever we could.
J.D. Griffith
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