Spirit-Living Devotional
Apostle Osborn
THE SPIRIT OF DIVISION
[[Rom 16:17]] KJV Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
In our opening text, the Apostle Paul cautions us about those that cause division and offences among God’s people. There are people who cultivate this wrong spirit. They always create confusion and division among the brethren. And division is one thing God hates: it’s an abomination to Him.
In Proverbs, we are told about six things the LORD hates, but the seventh is an abomination unto Him, and that is the one who causes division and discord among the brethren.
[[Pro 6:16, 19]] KJV These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
*A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
The ISV puts it like this; “…Someone who sowing quarrels between brothers.” God hates this attitude. Sometimes, you find people in the church causing division and confusion among people. They lie and say things that will break relationships and get others to be offended. These people bring division among friends and even between members and their pastors. And God abhors this attitude.
In our opening text, the Holy Ghost shows us what to do with such people. Two things: 1. He tells us to mark such people in the church. We must take notice of their attitude. We must not take these things lightly. You must look out for and be careful about people who come to gossip to you about others. Mark those who try to poison your mind about leadership or the brethren.
- The next thing is to avoid them. To avoid means to turn aside, deviate from, or to keep aloof from one’s company. Don’t hung around people who pollute your mind about others: avoid them. Keep your distance from them. The reason is because God hates their attitude. Again, that attitude is contagious, and always know that anyone who can gossip to you will gossip of you.
Cultivate a different spirit. Be filled with love. Be the opposite of division. Foster unity among the brethren. Unite people. Help the weak in spirit, and build up broken relationships. Always be the reason why people will stay and happily serve in church.
Prayer:
Father I thank you for enlightening me through your word today. I receive your word and open up myself to foster unity among the brethren. I reject the spirit of division, and I embrace love and unity in Jesus’ name.
