CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 719

“Common Denominator”

James 3:13-4:3 (ESV) … where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice… What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have… You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel…

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Is your world marked by strife? Do you dread going to your place of work because it is a hostile environment full of tension between people? Or perhaps the opposite is true and you prefer the work environment to the strife that awaits you in your home with your spouse, parent, or teenage son or daughter.

“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. – Matt 12:25

‘Divide and Conquer’ is an age old military tactic that has remained highly effective over the centuries. Dysfunction and disunity within a corporate body, whether it is a church, family, military unit, or business entity becomes a dividing force that destroys it from within. Denominators are dividers and God’s Word tells us that there is a common denominator or dividing force behind the strife we experience. This common dividing force is our worldly passions of jealousy and selfish ambition.

The enemy of your soul cannot steal your salvation but he can disrupt your peace. Through your response to strife, he can hinder your spouse, children, acquaintances, and friends from having a personal relationship with Jesus by disrupting your testimony of faith.

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Phil 2:3

First, as Christians we must not be the source of strife. Jesus taught us that no servant is greater than his master and the character of Jesus, our Master, was that He counted others more significant than Himself and looked not to His own interest. He demonstrated this by washing the feet of the disciples, even the feet of His betrayer. His ultimate demonstration was by His death on the cross to pay the price for all our sins and make a way for us to be reconciled to a Holy God and receive salvation through Him.

Second, as Christians we are to be a multiplying force of God’s presence and peace to counter the divisive effects of the enemy.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. – James 3:17

Note that purity precedes power. Note also that the wisdom of God is that we be impartial. Avoid taking sides in a strife situation. Let the Truth of the Word of God be the objective standard.

May the abiding presence of God through you bring peace and sow the seeds for an abundant harvest of righteousness.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God