Avoiding The Great Divide

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” Romans‬ ‭16:17-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we know the enemy is at work in this world ? He is always trying to isolate us, to anger us, and to shame us. His mission is to pry us away form our focus on Jesus. One of his most prevalent methods of distracting the world is division. Look around at the current world order. It appears to be chaos or mass hysteria.  All of what we are being fed by this world is meant to divide us, as Christians, and as brother and sisters.

What does the Lord think of these “dividers”?

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Proverbs‬ ‭6:16-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I submit that the enemy is exhibiting all of these qualities now on earth, but clearly stirring up conflict in the community is stage one. Remember this before he has us at odds with others over the political landscape, at odds with our brothers and sisters, and even worse with our own families.

He has no Authority over us!

Jesus says,

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John‬ ‭15:18-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He also reminds us,

“I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me,” John‬ ‭14:30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The good news continues, as not only does the prince of this world have no hold over Christ, he has no hold over us, in Christ.

For it is written:

He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke‬ ‭10:18-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The enemy is creating division in this world, at epic proportions. We must remain steadfast in Christ, knowing He has removed any authority the enemy may try to usurp over us.

This great divide is evil,  but the Lord has already judged the divider, and he holds no authority over us in Christ.

Let us remain undivided, all of us.

Remember to Love one another….

Barnabas

 

Special thanks to Barnabas for this guest submission.