I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel. 1 Corinthians 1:14-17
“I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.” I love the personal note that Paul adds here. God allows Paul’s personality to show through his writing. Yet, isn’t it interesting that Paul doesn’t remember who he baptized? Especially as he didn’t baptize many people. However, Paul gives the reason—”Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel.” He was focusing on what Christ called him to do.
Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (3:13-14). Paul didn’t just say this because he thought it was a good idea but he practised what he preached. Likewise, we also focus on those things God has called us to do.
While we may not be called to preach like Paul, God has gifted us to serve in some way. Sometimes the things God calls us to do may not be as obvious as preaching and may not seem significant, but we often underestimate our contribution. Jesus said, “if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42).
Let’s not become comfortable with our past successes or past service but rather let’s focus on what lies ahead.
