Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)

It is stating the obvious, but our church leaders are not Jesus, yet sometimes some people come close to worshipping them. This is obviously a huge mistake. Our pastors (evangelists, apostles etc – whatever labels they bear) are in the church to point to Jesus, to preach Jesus, to increasingly exemplify Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit (although they too are sinful). Their ministry only has value to the degree that they glorify Christ.

You may love and honour the leaders God has given you. It is right to do so. But they did not die on the Cross for you. Remember always to whom you belong: the Lord who bought you at such a great price.

‘Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.’ Dietrich Bonhoeffer in ‘The cost of discipleship.’

‘Dear Lord Jesus! I Thank you that you love me. I am the least of saints and the chief of sinners, but in the bankruptcy of my soul I trust in the riches of your grace.’ ( From F.B.Meyer’s  ‘Daily Prayers’).