1 Corinthians 3:6-9 Watering the Plants
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: January 29, 2020 1 Corinthians 3:6-9
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
(Understanding the Text) I see two themes here. One is that it doesn’t matter what job God gives you in the spiritual advancement of others. Each job is of the same importance. You are part of a team that works for and with God to bring others to and closer to Christ. Secondly, No matter who does a job or how well they do a job, it will not succeed unless God gives the growth. Anything that I do or say is useless unless the Spirit is working with the hearts and minds of those around me.
(Revelation of God) We get our relationship with God backwards sometimes. We don’t work for God, trying to accomplish the tasks on our own. We work with God as part of a team. God wants us to be His co-workers, not His employees. There is a vast gulf between who we are and who God is, yet He feels happy to have us hitched up together with Him slowing Him down to our speed and abilities. Maybe, it’s like a dad and his son pulling a wagon together. Sure, the dad could pull the wagon much faster alone, but that’s not the point. The point is that the dad is happy to be assisting his little son in their activity. The point is pulling the wagon; it is spending time with a child you love. God just enjoys doing things with us, I guess.
(Application / Prayer) I am two things at the same time. I am God’s field where He grows the good grain, but I am also a worker in God’s field. God will continue to work in me bringing me to maturity. At the same time, He will use me to help others come to maturity. I pray that I will receive your blessings freely and grow in You. I also pray that I will be Your worker who never brings shame to Your name.