Divisions

It is amazing how our carnal nature can wrap itself up so look righteous and honorable in getting us into pride, rebellion and division.  How easy we can move into the space of, “My way or the High Way.” when those who love us the most are seeking to keep us from making very painful mistakes.  I am reminded of a verse of scripture in the Old Testament.   Proverbs 6:13-15,  He winks with his eyes, he speaks by shuffling or tapping with his feet, he makes signs [to mislead and deceive] and teaches with his fingers.  Willful and contrary in his heart, he devises trouble, vexation, and evil continually; he lets loose discord and sows it.  Therefore upon him shall the crushing weight of calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken, and that without remedy.”  And, “Proverbs 6:19, the 7th deadly sin,   “A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.”  A lot of the time we are so caught up in the emotions of an issue that we tend to forget about Jesus and everything and everybody who is effected by our choice.

I remember one time while living in Oklahoma in the 7th Grade that about 6 boys were gathered and planning to go steal some watermelons on the other side of the river.  And I begged them to take me along.  I knew down deep it was wrong but I could taste the watermelon and so tagged along.   Farmer would not miss a few watermelons.  They all got to the other side just fine but I stepped off of a sand bar into the river current and went down for the count up and down about 3 times and about the time I was going down for the last time my feet found another sand bar back to my side of the river. Now looking back, that sweet watermelon sure took control of me.  Of course, it never occurred to me to talk to my parents or the school counselor about the idea.

Our Heavenly Father for hundreds of years has given us HIS wisdom through His prophets on just about every subject of what to do for a loving,  painless and productive life.  And yet, even today, over half of the Christian Marriages end up in a divorce court contrary to 1 Cor.6 & 7.  And a lot of so call Christians are now in Jail.  So what does the Bible teach us about Discord & Division.

1 Corinthians 12:24-26, “Which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized, and subtly proportioned the parts of) the whole body, giving the greater honor and richer endowment to the inferior parts which lack [apparent importance],  So that there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the parts [share] the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members [share in] the enjoyment of it.”   So where is there room for division or discord ?

James 4, “What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures. …

And the Battle is not an easy one in which to secure the Lord’s Victory as our Carnal Nature does not want to die, Rom.8:13, but to live and to explore using God’s Gifts for our own personal pleasure is to be just like lucifer.

1 John 2:15-17, “ Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].  And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.

On a personal level, I feel like I would like to be married.  And in the last year have joined a couple of Christian introduction sites on the Internet.  It has been a real learning challenge for me as I determined to put Jesus as top drawer to any friendship.  I placed my picture and profile up and have had women from all over the world writing in, some in their 20’s and me at 93.  What a witness for Jesus that would be.  Of course my Carnal Nature want’s to get out of his casket and take over the show.  So it has been good for me for inner healing and to make me stronger.  But as yet, none of the many contacts have gone very far as I keep sharing about Jesus and Eph.4:22-33, 1 Cor. 13, Prov.31:10 and 1 Pet.3. As our Bible teaches us to not become uniquely  yoked.  As Apostle Paul shares with us as per our Lord’s ministry to us.   2 Cor.6:13-15.  “By way of return then, do this for me—I speak as to children— open wide your hearts also [to us]. Do not be uniquely yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership has right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?  What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

And often, if we like a person,  we take as true who they say they are. when Jesus teaches us that His disciples are to be known by the fruit that is on their tree.  In my last marriage, everything seemed so right, she was everything I was looking for but I forgot to be a fruit inspector.  Found out later that she lied to me.  She got an expensive divorce and left about 4 years ago.  No fights at all and no counseling.  I took really good care of her for over 20 years, seems now she was only interested in the security without me. And it is not only the fruit of the Spirit that we look for,  Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].  But also the factor of reproduction, Is there an obvious history of helping others find Jesus as LORD?   John 12:24.  This is basic for all true Christian relationships.  Our relationships must come through the front door of those who love us, not the back doors of this world.