Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
Have you ever been in the middle of an argument and wondered, “Why are we fighting about this?” When hearing an argument, it is easy to jump on one side or the other, but we often fail to ask if the issue is even worth fighting about. It is easy to find a podcast, news broadcast, or article that will tell us about an issue and a perspective on an issue, but we often forget our heavenly Father’s call for unity. Paul warned the Roman church that pursuing unity as brothers and sisters in Christ is not just refraining from arguing about useless matters, it is also about being aware of the voices we listen to and the people who influence us. This includes more than just our circle of friends; it applies to the voices we listen to on podcasts, social media, and more.
We’ve all heard it said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Over time, we have learned this is not true. We have all been impacted by the words someone said to us because words matter. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” May this be our aim in the words we say and the words we listen to from others.
- Who are some people that you regularly listen to? How might your influences encourage you to be divisive?
- What would change about your life if you started to guard against any patterns of divisiveness? What would that free you up to do?
- Pray and ask God for discernment to watch out for divisiveness in your life.
