I Corinthians 2: 12, 13 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." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
--NIV
In the name of the undivided Christ, amen.
The invisible, universal Church is not divided. We all follow Christ. All divisions in the Church come from not following Christ--that is not binding oneself to His Holy Word. As we look around the world today we see that there is much division in the Church. As this passage indicates, many people bind themselves to a teacher, rather than to Christ. St. Paul ridiculed this idea. He also ridiculed the petty jealousies that divided people. The emphasis of St. Paul, and all orthodox teachers, is Christ. This is in keeping with the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures.
So stop worrying about the messenger, and focus on the message that Jesus Christ has lived a perfect life for you, died an innocent death to pay for your sins, and rose again to bring you eternal life. If we all focused on the message, and let God's Word interpret God's Word, we wouldn't have so many divisions. But so many wish to follow their on ideas, or some other teacher, rather than Christ.
But the Holy Spirit comes to us in the Word of God and leads us into all understanding. He unifies us as one in the faith, and makes us strong. He helps us to look out for each other, to pray for each other, and joins us together to spread the Holy Gospel to others. May He break the divisions of false understanding that stand between us, and make us one body in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, You are the One Who gives spiritual gifts to us to use for the good of the Church. You also make us one through faith in Christ Jesus. Forgive us for the times we are the cause of divisions because we stray away from Your Holy Word. Forgive us when we follow teachers who teach contrary to Your Word, rather than carefully following Your Word. Help us to study Your Word and to understand it correctly. Unite all of the body of Christ as one voice to praise Your glorious name forever, amen.