Watch Out (Dec 8)

I urge you, brothers, 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

Paul today addresses divisions in the church.  A problem that he went into much more detail about in his letter of 1Corithnians.  He expresses an urgency, a vigilance, and  warnings about flattery and self service in this passage.

As our reading of the bible nears completion, we can now reflect on earlier divisions.  The first division, between man and God occurred in Genesis; when man fell from perfection into having the knowledge of good and evil, by eating the forbidden fruit.  One early division that I consider often is when Israel was wandering in the desert, and the rabble among them started complaining about food, about how poor the present condition was and how much better the conditions were in Egypt.  The grumbling among the rabble was infectious and soon the Israelites were having second thoughts about their leadership, their wandering, and even God who was present as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Their is an urgency and the Spirit should sound an alarm whenever false teaching is given.  Pray for that guidance, for divisions in the church, in the community, in the world are challenging.

Flattery is spoken of in the book of Daniel 11:32. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.  This passage encourages us to know our God.  To spend time in the word, to carry out the Lord's work, to serve others, in order to resist those who flatter and who can lead the naive into deception. 

By knowing God's word, when someone speaks an untruth, the Spirit can be active and place a  bible passage of truth in the light, in a place where discernment can be exercised.

How do you get to know God?

Where do you turn when you perceive divisions?

Pray to stay in the Word daily after the completion of the chronological study.

In Christ,


David P