Thought for Today
Genesis 10:25 To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan.
1 Kings 16:21 Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts; half of the people followed Tibni son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri.
Matthew 12:25 He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
Romans 14:10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
“While our opinions and preferences have validity, they must never become weapons used to categorize others. In the economy of God, our differences are meant not to be points of division, but reflections of a vast, creative Spirit.” (These Days, September 9, 2026)
As I read those words this morning about opinions, preferences and differences, I thought about the divisions in our own country. We are currently ‘suffering’ through the trials of mid-term elections. Candidates from all parties and all factions within those parties are ‘promising’ dire consequences if they are not elected. We are inundated with television and print advertisements explaining why one or another candidate’s election will destroy our country in this year of our 250th birthday. Repeatedly, I recall “Ecclesiastes 1:9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.”
“The phrase ‘United we stand, divided we fall’ has been traced back to the Greek storyteller Aesop, who lived during the 6th century B.C.” (www.yourdictionary.com) “Patrick Henry used the phrase in his last public speech, given in March 1799.” (ibid) Aesop could not have read or heard Jesus’ words; Patrick may or may not have read Jesus’ words. Jesus’ words are (obviously) both true and telling. Of course, as a Christian and an American, I realize that those 2 worlds are not synonymous. They overlap in my case, but they are not identical. Not all citizens of the U.SA. are Christian. Equally, all Christians may or may not have the same understandings of the best form of government.
Our lives and the lives of all of God’s children are lived within overlapping spheres of influence. Our lives are influenced and to some degree are governed by culture, history, ethnicity, government and faith traditions. Depending on the situation and/or the issue, one or the other of these overlapping spheres of influence may or even should take precedence over the others.
As a Christian, my faith is the most dominant influence on my life. My faith influences how I approach everything else in my life. Is it inevitable that my faith will cause or contribute to the divisiveness I sense within our country? Is the U.S.A. divided due to Christianity? Are Jesus’ words a prescient warning for Christians and non-Christians alike?
I do view Jesus’ words about division as cautionary. I believe we also need to read and heed Paul’s words to the Romans. Even Jesus himself said, “Luke 12:14 . . . ‘Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?’" Jesus also cautioned us, “Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.”
I agree with that devotional writer today that “our differences are meant not to be points of division.” That is true within the vast spiritual rainbow of Christendom. While there are a myriad of different ways we all worship the same Creator God, those differences should not divide us. Our faith in Jesus should unite us.
Within our nation, religion or the lack of religion should not divide us on civil issues. Again, Jesus said, “Luke 20:25 . . . ‘Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's.’" The U.S.A. is a nation comprised of immigrants. Some arrived earlier than others. All are God’s children, irrespective of whether or not all know that. Christians should all recognize and remember that. Differences of opinion are acceptable. Division and hatred are not.
Love God, love each other, act like it, trust God,
Pastor Ray