Does Your Heart Beat With
Division or Unity?
As you read or hear of current events each day there is division everywhere. Our country is divided on seemingly every issue to include socio-economic, racial, political, sexual orientation and the list goes on. What is most troubling to me is the stark division within the body of Christ.
Christian division is global with one denomination pitted against another. Even within denominations there is strife. Worse yet is that within individual churches division reigns where hearts are cold to the teachings of Jesus. Being able to quote Scripture without living it is useless.
Anyone can memorize and spit back words but few can walk out what is heard from the pulpit.
Do You Speak Division or Unity?
Think about your own place of worship. Is there a genuine welcoming spirit? Or, is there gossip about the way another dresses, speaks, looks, lives? How do you feel if you are on the receiving end of such mean-spirited talk? How do you think another feels when you speak negatively of them? Believe me, words have a way of finding themselves right back to the one being talked about. Jesus told His followers not to judge another or the depth of their judgment of other people would be judged back to them by the Lord. Somehow it can be easy to quote this but are you living it?
Are You Trying to do Jesus’ Job?
Jesus clearly tells us in Matthew 9:13 that He and He alone has come to call sinners to repentance. He tells us not to judge others. So what is one to do? It is easy really. As a true follower of Jesus Christ your job is simply to live by His tenets and thereby lead others to Him. He and He alone will call folks to repentance and restoration. Through the Holy Spirit you are guided in every step to minister to those He has divinely appointed to cross your path.
The decision for each appointed encounter is His. The salvation comes from Him, not you. He is the Savior, not you. I have sadly seen too many self-appointed and self-anointed people do much damage to others who truly needed the unconditional love of The Savior. The true work of salvation is reserved for Him alone. He alone knows the heart of each individual. Never attempt to judge the heart of another.
Someone said to me over Christmas, “But I do not know what to do. What do I do?” When you attempt to ‘do’ it yourself, you will meet with frustration and potential failure. Complete surrender to Him and His will for you will open doors no man can open and close doors no man can close.
However, He wants it all. You cannot hold back any portion of your life to run yourself. It is not easy to see in the moment what He can see in the eternal for you. Complete surrender requires complete trust.
Complete trust can only be achieved with the help of the Holy Spirit. It is not in your human nature to trust completely.
During a very difficult time in my life my prayer was, “I thank you, Lord, that you open doors and close doors that no man can open and close. Thank you for the grace to walk through the open door and the grace to walk away from the door You have closed.” When I stopped trying to live in my own understanding and effort the way became much more clear and easy.
Let Go of Division and Walk in Unity with Him!
So, if you are tired of trying to do it on your own. If division is rampant in your heart (it is always a heart issue), your home, your church, your relationships, determine to step away from the toxicity of division in your life.
Is your heart so fractured by division that you operate from that broken place in all your encounters? If you are frustrated that your efforts are seemingly as if trying to walk through quick sand, let go and let Jesus take over.
It does not matter if you have called yourself Christian for a lifetime or are just now contemplating committing your life to the Lord. Take a moment to repent for all you may have done that is contrary to His way. Re-commit or commit for the first time to going forward this day surrendered to Him and His very best for you. He sees the beginning and the end. Know that He walks you through the middle each and every step of the way!
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” ~Jesus, Matthew 7:1-2
“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?…Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.” ~Jesus, Matthew 7:3, 5
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” ~Jesus, Matthew 7:7
“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” ~Jesus, Matthew 7:12
“…For I do not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” ~Jesus, Matthew 9:13b
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.
God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families. May the Lord keep them safe. Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history.
Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel. May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history.
We continue to pray for truth to prevail as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour.
Please Join Me in Prayer
Father we thank You that You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ to die for our eternal salvation. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit to comfort us and guide us in the way You would have us go. Grace us to remove every trace of divisional strategies from our hearts. Line our hearts up with the heart of Jesus for His compassion, love and mercy toward others. Open doors no man can open and close all doors that only You can close. Grace us to walk through the open doors and walk away from the doors You have closed. Keep us ever under the shadow of Your wings. We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and amen.