I ran across this video today by Pastor Francis Chan. I had the honor of protecting him on two occasions and we spoke briefly. He is very kind, and very much the guy you see on stage. There is an ease being around him. So when I saw this video I took a few minutes and watched.
He is speaking about unity in the church, not his church but the church at large. And he is talking about division. It’s a deceptive weapon the enemy uses to separate believers because we are weaker when we are not unified.
This message made me think. It made me think about the church at large. It made me think about my own church. And it made me take a look at my own heart. And I realized that the offense that I found was cemented in place by justification and that justification for being offended is keeping the hurt, unforgivenes and resulting sin in place in my heart. I stopped. I forgave those that have hurt and offended me, asked God to forgive me for allowing myself to hold onto that offense. The battle is not with flesh and blood as Ephesians 6:10-12. It is against the evil powers that are affecting us and/or others. That teaching makes is easier to forgive and that forgiveness benefits me, not the person I am forgiving.
It’s time to set aside pride, self-interest, and just humbly sit in God’s awesome presence, worship Him and give thanks to Him for all He has done for me, all He has blessed me with, and quietly ask the Holy Spirit to guide me toward my next steps as His path will always be the best one.
I pray you find this as helpful as I did.
