08/11/2024
In Paul's letter to the Romans he presents a list of greetings to the church in order to insure unity within the newly forming bride of Christ, and he warns them to separate themselves from those who would bring discord within the Church. Paul was concerned about the Church moving away from the true gospel of Jesus, and becoming fractured. We should be equally concerned about this today.
“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.”
Romans 16:17 ESV
Then, Paul delivers a message regarding the maintenance of their purity.
“For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.”
Romans 16:19 ESV
As modern day Christians this message should ring true as well, and there is no greater tool for maintaining unity and purity than prayer. To live righteously we must stray from evil and bind ourselves to all that is good. Pastor E.M. Bounds proposed that prayer insures us of success in this endeavor. He says this about such prayer...
"Let us not forget that, while life is a condition of prayer, prayer is also the condition of righteous living. The fruit of real praying is right living. It causes a person to watch his temper, conversation, and conduct. It leads him to walk cautiously and redeem the time. It enables him to act worthy of being a Christian.
It gives him a high incentive to pursue his pilgrimage consistently by shunning every evil way to walk in the light of God." - E.M. Bounds
By study of the Word of God, and maintaining a prayer life to strengthen us, our ability to purify ourselves is moved from our own weak grasp into the strength of God's capable hands. From this vantage, we can insure the unity of the church through discernment, right doctrine, and the righteousness of our own lives through the pursuit of purity. Prayer is the surveyor's mark by which we not only judge and keep the bounds of our spiritual lives, but the mark which defines the border we share with the world.
As we pray, God instructs us and encourages us in His ways. He keeps us together as a church, and provides us with the bounds and ways that direct us into holy lives. Our prayer takes what is written and transforms it into a living interpretation that forms our modern faith as we pilgrimage through today's world.
I pray this morning that we are able to identify those who are dividers and separate ourselves from them. I pray that through our prayers the scriptures come to life and lead us through the world, and the life we experience today. I pray that we find the strength to lead a pure and righteous life by maintaining our relationship with the Lord through the words and moans of our prayers, and that holiness finds fertile ground within our quiet places. I pray that our attentiveness to the Lord's presence will be strong within our closets as we share that time with Him, and that He blesses us in each day as a result. Amen
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being the one focal point of truth that we are constantly touching and aligning ourselves with, as we pray to you without ceasing. Thank you for guiding us, together as your Church, in the same righteous direction, and not allowing discord or wrong teaching to separate and taint us. Thank you for being our touchstone that insures that our beliefs remain pure, consistent with your Word, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Never let our human desire to lead the Church get in the way of your will, or cause us, through our own selfishness and pride, to stray from your commands and commandments. Father have mercy on us today by giving us discernment, and a strong sense of right and wrong, as false prophets attempt to redirect your people into ways that are worldly, and blasphemous. Open our ears as we kneel before you in prayer Lord, and teach us that the logic we use as men to justify our actions, is not necessarily consistent with your way, and that our self-serving desires can lead us to our demise, and destruction. Found us firmly in your Word, and guide us away from false teaching, and those who would want to usurp your authority. Your ways are not always easy, but they are eternally good, righteous, and holy. Abiding by your Word, and the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way by which we will be deemed worthy, and receive your gifts such as joy, peace, and the promise of eternity… not death nor damnation. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come. Holy are you who created and commands all things, and judges us according to your will. Lead us down paths of righteousness for your name’s sake, and let no man or dark one, separate your children from you by asking them to follow their subtle and loosely disguised lies. Have mercy on us Father, and pour out your grace upon us as we seek you, and you alone. Speak to us in our prayers and never let our minds be led to stray.
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:6-9 ESV
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”
Philippians 2:12-16 ESV
And all God’s people say… Amen, Amen, Amen!
Rich Forbes