April 4
Judges 11:29-15:20
Unity is a critical virtue in the Bible. Hypothetically it seems easy enough, but it is extremely hard to maintain. Who would have thought the divisions of contemporary America would exist like they do? We learn from a young age to argue over the smallest of things. Despite the divisions around us, God calls the church to be a place marked by unity. But it is difficult to maintain unity in a church just like it was impossible for Israel to experience unity. Though Israel was unified coming into the Promised Land, they were quickly involved in civil wars with Judges 12 describing the death of 42,000 Israelites.
Disunity creates anxiety, divisions, and pain. Disunity is destructive, but Samson shows us the even greater destruction which comes from unity with evil. Rather than aligning himself with God's people, Samson finds a wife among the pagan Philistines. We will see the evidence of sexual sin in Samson multiple times and each time with grave consequences. If we unite ourselves with God's people, then we will have accountability and encouragement to follow God. If we unite ourselves with those who are opposed to God, then we will quickly find ourselves dragged into their ways. It is critical for us to have intentional Christ-centered relationships marked by unity and resist the pull to align ourselves with sin.
Father God, help me to stay committed to you and your people. Help me to find unity in my relationships with other believers and stay focused on Jesus. Amen.
What are you doing to cultivate Christ-centered relationships and how can you more intentionally do that?
Unity is a critical virtue in the Bible. Hypothetically it seems easy enough, but it is extremely hard to maintain. Who would have thought the divisions of contemporary America would exist like they do? We learn from a young age to argue over the smallest of things. Despite the divisions around us, God calls the church to be a place marked by unity. But it is difficult to maintain unity in a church just like it was impossible for Israel to experience unity. Though Israel was unified coming into the Promised Land, they were quickly involved in civil wars with Judges 12 describing the death of 42,000 Israelites.
Disunity creates anxiety, divisions, and pain. Disunity is destructive, but Samson shows us the even greater destruction which comes from unity with evil. Rather than aligning himself with God's people, Samson finds a wife among the pagan Philistines. We will see the evidence of sexual sin in Samson multiple times and each time with grave consequences. If we unite ourselves with God's people, then we will have accountability and encouragement to follow God. If we unite ourselves with those who are opposed to God, then we will quickly find ourselves dragged into their ways. It is critical for us to have intentional Christ-centered relationships marked by unity and resist the pull to align ourselves with sin.
Father God, help me to stay committed to you and your people. Help me to find unity in my relationships with other believers and stay focused on Jesus. Amen.
What are you doing to cultivate Christ-centered relationships and how can you more intentionally do that?
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