Beware of Dissension and Hindrance in Your Own Heart
Scripture Passage: Romans 16:17-20 (NASB)
17 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. 18 For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For the report of your obedience has reached everyone; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
SUMMARY
Paul urges the Roman church to turn away from those who cause dissension and hindrances contrary to Christian teaching. Paul warns the church not to be fooled by such people, who only follow their own appetites and not Christ. Paul exhorts the church to be “wise in what is good,” and ends by stating that God will crush Satan under their feet.
REFLECTION
As I meditated on these verses, I was reminded that the cause of dissension and hindrance in my own heart, the thing that makes me turn away from the teaching of God, is often myself. I am still enslaved to my desire to control my circumstances – whether it’s my health, my work or my relationships with other people. Taking good care of my health, doing work well and cultivating relationships by loving and serving them are all good things. But when my attention and focus go completely to those things, such things become idols in God’s place and bring ‘dissension and hindrances’ in my spiritual life.
For example, it’s been difficult to get my son to eat well. It takes him a long time finish each meal, and I haven’t been happy with his table manners. So I argue with him during almost every meal, trying to make him sit properly and get him to eat more. This one issue affects and sometimes even dominates my view of my son. But this passage reminds me realize – it’s is not about my son. It’s about my own “appetite” for control, and my frustration at not being able to control the situation. The stress that arises from this acts as a distraction and a “hindrance” that prevents me from seeing my son as who he is – someone with his own unique personality that God loves fully. Trying to parent my son and to teach him the right things are not bad things. But as verse 19 says, I need to be wise even in doing good things.
APPLICATION
Instead of getting upset and yelling at my son for not eating every single meal as I want him to, I want to surrender this (and so many other things in my life) and bring it to the Lord. Before he was my son, he was God’s precious child. God knows what he needs and is taking care of him. My part as a parent is to try my best to help him but, in the end, I have to let go of control.
PRAYER
Lord,
Forgive me. I confess that I am still a slave not of you but of my own appetites. I’m so busy fighting for control of my own heart, my own mind, that there’s no room for you to come in and do your work. Lord, clear out all the unnecessary thoughts in my head that hinder me from simply following and trusting Your teaching. Give me wisdom and discernment even in doing good things. And when the time of trials come, remind me to stand firm because the God of peace will soon crush Satan under my feet.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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