Corona Devo 1084

Watch out for traffic.  

Watch out for bees on summer clovered-lawns.  

Watch out for first-base-runners stealing second.  

Watch out for boys (and girls!) with bad-intentions.  

Watch out for Ponzi-schemes.  

Watch-out for deer during dusk on back roads.  

Watch out for hidden fees.

Watch out for mosquitos when the sun goes down.  

Watch out for germs.

Watch out for pick-pockets on the subway...

But...watch out for other believers-in-the-Lord?  

I guess so.  The Bible warns us today to watch out for anything or anyone whose intentions are not fully rooted in Christ.  

And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. (18) Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.

(19) But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. (20) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  ~Romans 16:17-20 

~~~

We watch out for so many things on a daily basis..but people-purposely-partitioning-God's-people---that (may be) a new one for us.

But we have seen and heard them, haven't we?--People who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught (Romans 16:17).  

The divisions can be subtle.  It may start with a question that flickers across our mind..."What did he just say?"  

The divisions may be a leniency in belief or acceptance, where God has drawn a line defining sin.  Watch out for people...teaching things contrary to what you have been taught (Romans 16:17).

Also, the Bible does not say to reason with them.  Or to debate, discuss, or try-to-convince them.  Stay away from them (Romans 16:17), says the Word of the Lord.  God advises us on love and patience in our lives but He also trains-us-up in prudence and wisdom.  Stay away from them (Romans 16:17).

Watch out for them because they are slippery.  

Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests.  ~Romans 16:18

The root is damaged if the message is coming out errant.  

Watch out for these brothers and sisters.  If we are listening/if we are observing/if we are discerning that such people are not serving Christ...then they are serving someone else: they are serving their own personal interests (Romans 16:18).

Watch out for them.  Listen up for them.  Be wise regarding them.

 By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.  ~Romans 16:18

Is there a worse way to be deceived (than by smooth talk and glowing words?)  Purposeful messaging and rehearsed rhetoric sound professional and even spiritual, but if their intent is to deceive innocent people...watch out.

This is why the Bible does not mince words or understanding in how we should proceed when we become aware of such people: Stay away from them (Romans 16:17).

But we needn't worry if we wonder if we are being served by such people.  We will know, because we are obedient to the Lord.  

But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong.  ~Romans 16:19 

We can be encouraged in our strength of knowing God and His Word.  We are obedient to Him.  We can remind ourselves of our foundation, our salvation in Jesus Christ, our forgiveness from the Lord, and our daily faith in being obedient to the Lord.  

Everyone knows that we are obedient to the Lord.  And we know that we are obedient to the Lord.  

So watch out.  

Be wise in doing right and staying innocent of any wrong.  That might sound like a gray area, but it is really very black and white.  God is clear in His Word about everything.  God is clear in His Word about sin and righteousness, about serving Him whole-heartedly...or half-way.  And God is clear in His Word about watching out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught (Romans 16:17).

If we will watch out today and be obedient to the Lord, He will take care of the smooth talkers with glowing words who deceive innocent people (Romans 16:18), and He will take care of us:

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  ~Romans 16:20 

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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