That Which Divides Us

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 1:30 pm Post subject: That Which Divides Us

That Which Divides Us

Scripture:

And the princes said to the king. We beseech you that this man may be put to death: for on purpose he weakens the hands of the men of war, that remain in this city, and the hands of the people, speaking to them according to these words: for this man seeks not peace to this people, but evil. And king Sedecias said: Behold he is in your hands: for it is not lawful for the king to deny you any thing. Then they took Jeremias and cast him into the dungeon of Melchias the son of Amelech, which was in the entry of the prison: and they let down Jeremias by ropes into the dungeon, wherein there was no water, but mire. And Jeremias sunk into the mire.

And Abdemelech went out of the king?s house, and spoke to the king, saying: My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done against Jeremias the prophet, casting him into the dungeon to die there with hunger, for there is no more bread in the city. Then the king commanded Abdemelech the Ethiopian, saying: Take from hence thirty men with thee, and draw up Jeremias the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.
(Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10, DRA)

And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us: Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who, having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sits on the right hand of the throne of God. For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds. For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
(Hebrews 12:1-4, DRA)

I am come to cast fire on the earth. And what will I, but that it be kindled? And I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized. And how am I straitened until it be accomplished? Think you, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation. For there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided: three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son and the son against his father: the mother against the daughter and the daughter against her mother: the mother-in-law against the daughter-in-law and the daughter-in-law law against her mother-in-law.
(Luke 12:49-53, DRA)

Reflection:

Cain became angry and dejected when God looked upon Able with favor. ?Then the Lord said to Cain: Why are you angry? Why are you dejected? If you act rightly, you will be accepted; but if not, sin lies in wait at the door: its urge is for you, yet you can rule over it.? (Genesis 4:6-7, NABRE) Despite the warning and encouragement from God for Cain to seek what is right and just, Cain rejected the teaching of the Lord and slew his brother Able. ( Genesis 4:8 )

The call of God is for us to love one another (cf Matthew 22:36-40), but from the time of the first two brothers, people continue to find reasons for division, anger, and rage; all fueled by pride, jealousy, envy, and selfishness. Those who seek power rise up with schemes as to how they may place themselves in positions of dominion, imposing the errors of their ideologies upon others. They choose paths in opposition to the design of God and the love to which our Creator calls us. Through deceptions, they appeal to greed, gluttony, sloth, and lust by which to lure hearts away from what is right and just. The evil one cares not how we miss the mark of what God asks of us, whether it is to the right or the left, above or below; only that we do. In the moment of evil, the lines of battle are drawn; the battle which rages for the ruin or salvation of souls.

To lead the battle for the souls of the children of His creation, God sent His most trusted Champion, His only begotten Son. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God." (John 3:16-21, NABRE)

The King of kings, the Lord of Lord, came to separate the people from that which separates them from God. Many who do not understand what they do, cling to the ways to which they were deceived. Rather than the ways of love; the ways which God asks of us; the people are deceived to ways which yield sorrow, misery, and harm. The Prince of Peace tells us that He did not come to the world to deliver peace to us here, rather, He came to deliver us from those who cling to evil so that He may bring us to the peace of His kingdom; therefore, He came to separate the chaff from the wheat, (cf. Matthew 3:12) to divide the goats from the sheep, (cf. Matthew 25:31-46) to divide the hearts infected with evil desires from the hearts of love.

Some see the blessings He brings and seek His embrace while others remain blind to the wonderful means by which He works within our lives. Some hear His call, but many hear not because of the noise of the world. Many shall be lost to the lures of the evil one, for they see not beyond the empty pleasures and temptations the prince of darkness set before them. They find comfort in their sorrow for they do not comprehend the blessings which may be found through living the fullness of faith in the ways of the Lord. They cling to their errors rather than trust in the wisdom taught by the Redeemer and those He sent forth with a mission to teach His truth to the world.

Because of those who cling to the ways of darkness, as the Good Shepherd calls to His flock, there will be struggle and oppression. Hearts of darkness will oppress and strike against even members of family and loved ones. Divisions will rage. For the faithful to prevail, they must turn to the only One who will deliver them and put on His armor, if they are to protect their soul.

The battle against evil is not fought only on the fields of the world, but also the fields of the heart. There is a time where the body must be protected by the sword (Luke 22:36) and the faithful must be prepared to defend themselves against evil adversaries, (cf. Ecclesiastes 3:1-22) but in the fight for the soul, the faithful must put on the armor of God so they may stand firm against the tactics of the devil and so they are prepared to resist on the evil day. ( cf. Ephesians 6:11-18 )

Let us, then, allow our Savior to set our hearts ablaze with the fire of His love; the love to which He calls us; for as we bring Him within our heart, we also bring within us the Light of the Word. Let us allow Him to separate us from our sins and cleanse us of our iniquities so we might be purified from all which prevents us from walking within His kingdom. Let us also give thanks and praise that we are so loved by Him, that He laid down His life so that we might be ransomed from the darkness. Let us allow Him to lead us away from that which separates us from our Creator.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways do we listen to and follow bad counsel?

To whom might we turn to receive the truth of all which is right and just?

In what ways might we prepare to survive the battle for our soul?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier