05/11/2023
Just a quick note, this is Daniel Mason posting this:
Matthew 24:7
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom...
Matthew 24:10
And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another
Mark 13:12
And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.
This is just a few of the passages that hint at the division the world will see in the last days.
Something on my heart when I read and think about these things.
It's often easy for us to see the divisive behavior and patterns out there in the world, among all those "other" people. It's real easy. Just try and talk politics with someone today.
But, what about the church? What about the body? What about us?
AS the world gets more divided and hateful towards Christians, we must be extremely vigilant, watching that we don't get caught up in it.
How am I affected by what's going on in the world? Am I changing along with them? Will I become bitter? Will I turn against my own family, or the church?
I think many of us know the song "they will know we are Christians by our love..."
I'm afraid that, in today's world, we're in danger of not even showing that love to one another.
We must dig deep in the word, challenge ourselves, and be sure to stay rooted in what we know to be true.
In Philippians 2 we read:
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
I think this idea goes against human nature, even more so in the times we're in. We must be on guard always with ourselves.
I think it's easy to focus on how the church can serve us better when in fact we should be seeking out how we can serve the church better.
