Keep Your Eye on Those Who Cause Dissensions and Hindrances

.

Keep Your Eye  on Those  Who Cause Dissensions  and Hindrances

When something is vitally important,  it bears repeating.     Teachers use repetition in school  to help students  remember.      God uses repetition  throughout His word  to us — the Bible.      In many ways  and with many examples,  God repeats the message  in Romans 16:17-20,

Now I urge you,  brethren,  keep your eye  on those  who cause dissensions  and hindrances  contrary to the teaching  which you learned,  and turn away  from them.

For such men  are slaves  not of our Lord Christ  but of their own appetites;  and by their smooth  and flattering speech  they deceive  the hearts  of the unsuspecting.      For the report  of your obedience  has reached to all;  therefore  I am rejoicing  over you,  but I want you  to be wise  in what is good,  and innocent  in what is evil.

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

Since the beginning  there have been  the willfully disobedient,  who purposely try  to lead others away  from the truths  of God Almighty.      Totally despising  God’s plan  of salvation  through faith  in Jesus Christ,  they invent  misleading doctrines  that sort of  sound like  God’s word — but definitely  are not.      There is a treachery  in their teaching  that pretends  to promote  God’s grace,  but really  has a different definition  of grace,  that tries to tear down  the true grace  God describes  throughout His word.

They promote  all sorts of rules,  laws,  good works,  dress codes,  different ways of worship,  ceremonies,  etc.,  that they insist  must be obeyed  if we want  to be pleasing  to God.      But,  none of that  “stuff”  is in God’s word.      We are to learn  straight from God’s word — the Bible.      These self-promoters  are “contrary  to the teaching  which you have learned”,  which should be  the Bible.

If  what a person has learned  from the beginning  is not  from the Bible,  they certainly are  being misled.      Paul is instructing us  to  “turn away from them”.      We should not support  any group  that strays  from what God clearly teaches us.      Why?      Because  they will rob us  of our salvation  and the salvation  of our children.      Not to mention — because we should honestly respect  the LORD God Almighty  enough  to stick to  His word.

Some are afraid  to leave a church  that promotes false doctrines  and legalistic practices.      But,  the Lord  is with all those  who love Him  for who He is.      Therefore,  Jesus teaches us  in Matthew 10:28,

And  do not fear  those who kill the body,  but are unable  to kill the soul;  but rather  fear Him  who is able  to destroy  both soul and body  in hell.

That’s a mighty strong statement  of the bare truth.      Those who are  without faith  and the love of God  in their hearts  will try  to use force,  stigmatizing,  fearful threats, etc.,  to retain people  in their group.      But,  no matter what fear  they try to instill  or what harm  they cause,  they should not be feared.      God will judge us all  in the end.

Shouldn’t we want  to stay close to God  and His eternal truths?

Rejoicing in the power  of God’s salvation,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  it is so good  to know  that You alone  are LORD of lords,  God of gods,  and King of kings!”

Love,
Margaret

 

.

A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

.

.

.

.