We are looking at 1 Corinthians, the first letter written by Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the church in Corinth.

This was a young church.  It was established in a city where there was so much 'spirituality', and so much secular influence upon the believers.  It was not surprising, therefore, that these believers were greatly affected by the values of the people around them, and failed to grow as they ought to.  They were not the church that God desired them to be, although outwardly it might be thought that they looked great ... great numbers, great gifts, great preachers, great signs and wonders, but that is not the measure spiritual maturity!

God's desire, and His measure of maturity, is made clear in the second verse of the whole letter: 1 Cor 1:2 "to those ... called to be holy".  They had many outward signs, but their hearts and lives were little affected or moved by God.  There was little of the real work of the Spirit within.

In a time when we are influenced so much by secular society, and yet also subjected to many differing views of what it is to be 'spiritual', it is really important that we consider again this challenge of God to His people.  Are we the church that God desires us to be?  Are we aiming at the same goals that God is seeking for His people?  Is the work seen in us really the work of God?  Are we seeing His work of transformation in our minds, sanctification of our lives, and glorification of His name in all we are and do?