Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 107:33-38
Ps 107:33-38
He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish.
Rom 16:17-19
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. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
James 3:17a,18
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
God loves peace makers but those who cause discord are an abomination in his sight. Those are strong words, but they are his. Truth is truth and we need to try to understand what is right and what is wrong, but we need to be at peace with each other. Just because we treat someone kindly does not mean we endorse all they believe or even their lifestyle. We are told to be kind as God is kind.
There are those who think that their way of thinking and their understanding is always truth, and everyone must conform to their way, or they are lost. This is not new. Read the book of Galatians and you will see that there were those who came from the “James” group in Jerusalem that had this mentality and caused division in the churches located in the province of Galatia. Paul warned them that these men were more interested in building their own party than they were in the good of the believers. Stand up for and stand on what you believe to be true but study the scriptures with an open mind to test it and verify it to be truth.
O Lord God, I know that your word is truth. I understand that opposing views cannot both be true. I also know that at my best, I can still be wrong. Help me keep learning as long as I live. Give me your wisdom from above so I will seek peace and not be one who causes discord and be a stumbling block. Use me to share the good news of Jesus, his saving gospel and his teaching that follows. Be with those who are hurting and struggling. I pray in the blessed name of Jesus.
Robert
