Latest Devotion
Soft Heart, Thick Skin
By: John Carrigan
Friday, May 29, 2026
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6
When Paul wrote letters to the Corinthian church, he spent a lot of time addressing their problems. This verse is part of a much larger passage where Paul addressed the divisions within the church. Some of them claimed allegiance to Paul, others preferred Apollos. In his letter, Paul reminded them that ministers (Pastors) are only one part of the equation. How successful a ministry is depends on God’s power, not man's. Human efforts are necessary, but the increase, growth, and faithfulness must come from God.
That is why unity in ministry is so important. It's a team effort, and we're all serving the same God. The role of teaching and guiding others is important, but so is every role that supports those efforts. Discipleship is very important too, but it can't change someone spirituality unless God is involved.
Ministry growth completely relies on God. But when we view kingdom work as a "team effort", it makes everyone's contribution equal and vital. Ministry is collaborative, but without God's blessing and divine touch, nothing would happen. God's power is what changes lives, not fancy programs or charismatic speakers.
I needed to hear those principles this weekend. My wife and I volunteered at a ministry event where the gospel was presented, and it was followed by altar call. But when the altar call came, not a single hand went up! Since I was the one who shared the message, I'll admit I was a little disappointed. I thought I had explained things clearly enough, and I was so straight forward, I was sure someone would make the decision to follow Jesus. Honestly, it was very humbling...
But God is good, and He knew exactly what He was doing. After the event ended, a young person and their friend came up to talk. They told us they felt they should've raised their hands, but they didn’t. We talked for a while as they explained their situation and what was going on in their lives. We prayed with them, encouraged them, then we continued to speak with them for a while longer. That interaction was encouraging for all of us!
If you're involved in ministry anywhere (church, work, neighborhood, home) and are praying for a positive outcome, may you have a soft heart and thick skin. Remember, we do our part, then God does His. We may not even see what He is doing, but He'll do it His way and in His perfect timing.
Human efforts are an essential part of sharing the gospel, but the final outcome rests in God's hands!