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Watch Out!

Words of Faith Final

Watch Out!
Words of Faith 12-20-2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Romans 16
    [17] I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. [18] For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. [19] Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

    Community is a treasure! What God creates through redemption is priceless. Christ's bond between people through the love He plants in believers is more precious than silver or gold. It is no wonder that the Enemy will do almost anything to break the bonds of Christian community, including using every sly tactic.
    This is why Paul warns the Christian community at Rome to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles or snares in the way through teaching that is not sound. Watch out for those who use smooth talk and flattery to deceive naive people-- the innocent and unsuspecting. Be careful of those who may sound like they are committed to the faith but, in fact, are feeding their own egos and appetites.
    Sadly, there have always been those who enter the community under the pretense of serving when, in fact, they have deep ravenous needs. Be careful of such as these. Be wise about what is good and innocent and wary of what is evil. Protect the precious gift of community!
    Have there been divisions in your community of Christ? I pray not. But if so, don't give in to those with smooth talk and flattery. Instead, focus on obedience to Christ, for this is the true mark of discipleship and is never self-glorifying. Treasure the community Christ has given to you. Celebrate the community of Christ.

       Lord, I give thanks for the community of faith that You have given to me. Let me not take for granted this precious gift. Show me how to guard against those who divide. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2021 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.