Devotion 

A House Divided

Frances Taylor 

Today, Christianity is divided. I'm not necessarily speaking about denominational differences because as long as a denomination is accurately presenting Jesus' message of the Good News, there is no problem. The problem comes when people who call themselves "Christian" preach and teach a false gospel. Just as there were Jewish leaders who tried to challenge Jesus in his own time because they didn't like what he was teaching, there are people today who don't want to follow the totality of his message. We learn from Paul that there is "One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism, One Lord of All." If this is true, then why do we consider one baptism more valid than another? If the Lord is Lord of all, then why do some claim to belong more to the Lord than others?

Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, chastises them for their divisions saying, "I am of Paul and I am of Apollos," etc. Paul reminds them that if they were baptized into Christ, that should be the end of it. It doesn't matter who led you to Christ, it's more important that we came to him. Let us work together to help end a spirit of division among all of us who are blessed to be baptized into Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Prayer 

Lord, just as you are one and Jesus prayed that we all should be one, help us to work together to end division among your people. Amen.