Good morning! Today we will begin reading 1 Corinthians chapter 3. Enjoy today’s devotion. 

Bible Verse – 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 NLT

“Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.² I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, ³ for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? ⁴ When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world.”

Reflection

In these verses Paul continues his explanation to the Corinthians for his need to speak to them as infants in Christ. These verses continue to point out that although many of them confessed to be Christians they still struggled with their flesh and lived as the world lived. Paul said that the church members/Christians were “jealous of one another and quarrel with each other.”

Today, we tend to have the same issues. We have churches or church leaders/members catering to the world and the politics that divide the church. We have members who are fighting over their political stance more than they are willing to fight for time with Jesus. We have Christians who have been Christians for years and they have not matured in their faith, believing things people say and quoting things like “God helps those who help themselves” as if it were in the Bible and it’s not (but they would know this if they read the Bible). Let’s be honest, if we were teachers we would study and prepare a lesson plan for people to learn, if we were football players we would train like football players, whatever the occupation we would study it until we were fully equipped. However, as Christians some of us fail to study, some of us fail to get equipped, some of us don’t seek instruction or desire to grow closer to the Lord beyond Sunday – and Christians are bothered if church goes longer than an hour and a half. Yet, they will watch a political debate for hours and be mad for a week, posting their opinions on Facebook and not consulting with the Lord. Or they will spend time watching Netflix’s for hours or make plans for days, but won’t spend 10 minutes in the word every day.

Sisters and brothers, just like Paul was writing to the Corinthian church we must take heed to the same lesson. If we are still acting and behaving as we did five or ten years ago (e.g., jealous of others, gossiping, drawing false conclusions, caught up in worldly things and saying things that are not in alignment with the word), and transformation is not evident in our lives, we might be still drinking baby milk. 

God is ready and waiting for us to move from infancy to mature Christians believers and doers.

• Are you ready to move you lfrom drinking baby milk to solid food?
• If so, what steps will you take to mature in faith?

Prayer

Father God, thank you for today. Thank you for the word that makes us re-evaluate where we are as Christians and our faith in you. Lord, we desire to mature as Christians. We want to know you more. Lord, forgive us for putting you last. Lord, we desire to seek you first in everything. Lord, reignite our passion for you and your word. Lord, tame our tongue and our behavior. Lord, we want people to see you in us, not our old self. Lord, transform us. Wherever we are weak in our Christian lives, make us strong and passionate for the things of you. Lord, we need your presence here in the world today. Equip us and send us to be the Christians you have called us to be.

Lord, thank you for answering our prayers for my niece. Thank you for allowing her surgery to go well. Lord, we pray for her continued healing and management of pain. Lord, we pray for those who have had surgery and ask that you continue to heal them. Lord, we pray for those struggling with mental health and we ask for you to stabilize their health and thinking. Lord, give us strength, wisdom, and peace today.

In Jesus name, amen. 

Keep praying! Keep trusting! Keep pursuing the Lord!

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Next Bible Study

On Thursday, January 15, we will begin our next Bible Study. We will meet via Zoom from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. PST

Next Event

On January 3, 2026, we will be hosting a luncheon in Pasadena for the women at our partner facility from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. We are looking for a few volunteers to assist with the event. If you would like to volunteer, email: contactus@maryewhiteministries.com

Year End Contribution Statements 

A special thank you to those who have contributed and supported this nonprofit ministry. Your contributions and in kind donations helped us to host three 12-week Bible studies, provide hygiene essentials and supplies to partner facilities, and have our annual retreat. We could not have accomplished what we did without your generosity. Year End Contribution Statements will be mailed/emailed in January.

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