PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: 2 Samuel 19-20
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“We have a greater claim on David than you have.” (2 Samuel 19:43)
What strikes me in this reading is the division among God’s people.
“If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25)
Jesus’s followers have also struggled with this same division.
The disciples arguing about who was the greatest (Mark 9:33-35).
Paul’s followers fighting over which faction they belonged to (1 Corinthians 1:11-12)
This is Satan’s way, how he works to divide and conquer the church.
Look at how divided Jesus followers are: Reformed, Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal.
Liberal, conservative, traditional, progressive, white churches, black churches.
“Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in American life.” (Martin Luther King jr)
We are all brothers and sisters, we are all one in Christ, welcomed by grace.
The divisions in Israel eventually led to the collapse of that kingdom.
Although Jesus’s kingdom won’t collapse, many of our churches and denominations will.
As Jesus followers we need to make it our top priority to welcome everyone in grace.
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)
PRAYER
Lord, this is how the world will know we are your disciples, by our love for one another. Help me to not view other Jesus followers by our distinctives, but to love all of them as my brothers and sisters.
There were clear differences of allegiance – even today in the church. Eventually, all of Israel and Judah were realigned under David. For Christians of so many different traditions and races around the world our unity is in Jesus. It is the only way we can have unity. Denominations come and go as do traditions – but Jesus is the same. “I am the way”. Only ONE way to the Father.