February 18
Lev 6:1-7:27 | PS 37:1-11 | Prov 10:3-4 | Mark 3:7-30
There are two ways to lead. The first is to divide and conquer. This was quoted by the likes of Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte. The other is to build and unite. From early when my children desired something that they knew that we would resist, they would look for differences between my wife and myself and seek to divide us on an issue. As parents we certainly were not always right, but even if we disagreed, we would be careful never to allow our kids to see it, knowing that they would use it to their advantage. Marriages often fracture over division. Look at our sharply divided nation. In my lifetime I have never witnessed such sharp division with such hatred directed at the opposing side. We might win arguments and render the other side speechless but have done nothing to bridge that division. Laws can be passed but the divisions only widen and foment anger. Consider the argument over the unborn. Each side wins short term victories, but the divide never lessens. This is why the gospel message of Jesus Christ and revival is the only real solution. When you accept Jesus and accept His Word as authoritative, then your heart changes and abortion is no longer a matter of one’s personal rights but becomes unthinkable. Consider the argument of those for abortion: “My body, my choice” and what a sick perversion this is to what Jesus taught us in communion (Luke 22:19), “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you;do this in remembrance of Me.” We in Christ understand in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” In Christ we unite, follow the world and we divide.
The people were unifying under Jesus Christ. The religious leaders were not pleased, but could not win any arguments. So they tried to divide His followers, since they could not deny the miracles, they argued He was not from God, but from Satan, as we read in Mark 3:22, “ And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.” Their attempt was to divide and conquer. We read Jesus’ reply in 3:23-26, “So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.” Interestingly, when you read through Revelation 2-3, about the seven churches, these churches contain messages to those specific churches, along with personal application and prophetic implications. The second church, Smyrna, the persecuted church, represents the period from the apostles to the unification under Emperor Constantine (100-312 A.D.). Though they were persecuted terribly they grew as they unified under the weight of oppression. The subsequent churches (except Philadelphia), introduced division. This division weakened the church movement. It was only during times of revival that the church grows.
The Psalm in today’s reading is Psalm 37. We read in 37:1,3,5: “ Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity… Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness… Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” We miss the point when we expend all of our energy seeking to convince others of our opinions on a whole host of topics. I’m not saying these topics are unimportant. But we might win the argument but in the process strengthen the resolve of those upholding different viewpoints. We can and we should disagree when others hold opposing viewpoints, but we should not be disagreeable. Jesus never wavered in upholding the truth, but did so lovingly. May we never forget that the main thing is the main thing. And that main thing is salvation by the blood of Jesus Christ. Help to open someone’s eyes about this and the divisions will diminish as God’s Word will take precedence.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: