Division

[0:00] A Pastor's Reflections, Division, Genesis 36, 6-7. And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan, and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob, for their riches were more than they might dwell together. Romans 16, 17, and 18. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them, which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

[0:47] Romans 12, 21. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. There are some things in life worth dividing over. There are situations where unity and fellowship simply cannot exist. The truth and a lie cannot mix. Light and darkness cannot be friends, and love apart from God is not a possibility. However, there are also many things that would cause division if we let them, but they ought not. Differing preferences, being offended, pride.

[1:26] None of these things are legitimate reasons for division. My preferences, not being considered, or my pride, being offended, should not be a reason for my division, but my repentance.

[1:40] Unfortunately for Esau and his family in Genesis chapter 36, Esau chose one of the worst reasons of all for division, worldly gain. It's the same reason we see Lot dividing from Abraham and detrimentally moving towards Sodom in Genesis 13. Esau chose to prioritize the gain of this world above the blessing and the promise of godly relationships. He chose to move away from the place of the god of blessing for the sake of maintaining the effects of god's blessing.

[2:17] That choice will shape the future generations of Esau's family. For you and I, we have choices before us every day over what we are going to divide.

[2:28] All of life is division. To choose one thing is to not choose another. To divide. Ephesians 5.8 For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

[2:46] Being people of light means walking in the light, which means making active decisions to divide from what may have been at one time very familiar. Esau chose to walk in the darkness of the division of the flesh. His life was shaped by what he chose to divide from and unify with. Our lives will also be shaped by our choices to divide.

[3:09] May they be those that are worthy of who we are now unified with. John 17.21 That they all may be one as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee.

[3:21] That they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent them. Father, thank you for choosing to divide yourself from your one and only Son for the sake of unifying with a sinner like me. May my choices of division reflect the heart of one who has been unified with Christ. Amen.