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.
Night Prayer
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Inspiration
We despise the thought of a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. The outside is easy to clean; it's the caked-up residue on the inside that's so difficult to remove. Jesus compares the scribes and Pharisees with dishes that have been wiped clean on the outside while dirty inside. The Pharisees took exceptional care of their outward appearance and neglected their inward spirits. We are guilty of allowing our hearts to be left filthy as well. We look and act as we should while our souls are full of darkness. We must continue to converse with the Holy Spirit daily and trust His guidance to cleanse our sinful nature.
Prayer
Dear God, Please forgive our sinful nature. We yearn for cleansing from within, so we are genuine witnesses to Your name. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
