Devotion for Thursday, January 27, 2022

“He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain” (1 Timothy 6:4b-5).

There are those who love to stir the pot.  Always seeking to be excited about something, they do not settle for what the Lord has given them.  These are the signs.  Do not ignore them, but realize they are symptoms of the disease of sin.  Inoculate them with the love of Jesus as a doctor would with a physical disease.  Do not allow the cancer of sin to grow.  Many congregations have allowed the cancer to grow and then wonder why they have failed.

Lord, help me to be bold in seeing things for what they are.  Let me always be gracious, but also willing to stand the right ground against the sins of those who would hurt Your body.  Guide me, Lord, to know when to stand and when to sit down.  Guide me to know the difference between a tough love that says no, and an even tougher love that sees but does not yet act.  You know what is necessary.  Guide me.

Lord Jesus, how hard it is for You to always walk this line with us sinners.  You walk it so that those who will come to know You will have the grace to reach the right place.  Help me to be like You so that I do not battle with others but love them enough to bring them to where they need to be.  Help me in and through all things to be led by You and to do things as You direct them to be done.  Amen.