Connect Me Oh Lord With Your Divine Manna Daily Devotions

THURSDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2023

TEXT: Romans 16:17-27

17: I urge you, brothers and sisters, 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.

18: 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.

19: Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

20: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

21: Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.

22: I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23: Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.

24KJV: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

25: Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,

26: but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—

27: to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: DIVISION IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

Division in the context of today's reading is a disagreement or difference in opinions.

Some of the people who disagree or express contrary opinions are usually influential and mostly idle. Such people can divide the Church of Christ and make things difficult for leaders.

Paul warns those in right standing to watch out for such people because they usually use doctrines that are contrary to the Biblical truth. Galatians 1:8-9, 2Thessalonians 3:6-14 and 2John 9-11 talk about such people in the church.

Paul further urges members in good standing to keep away from them because they do not serve God but their vile appetites.

QUESTION: How are you a part of the people today's passage talks about?

PRAYER: Father, please always keep me busy rather than idle so as to build and unite church members rather than divide them. Amen.