Build Each Other Up

Good morning Friends...

     Judges 12 feels way too familiar today. This chapter isn’t about some big outside enemy. It’s about God’s people turning on each other.

And thats exactly what we’re seeing play out right now in the world. 

    Jephthah just came out of a victory. God showed up and the battle was won. You would think it would be a moment of unity, But instead, here comes Ephraim. He's Not there to celebrate or show support. He's there to complain. Why didn’t you call us?

    And then it escalates. They threaten to burn his house down. And I read that and thought how many times do we do this or see others do this. God is moving. Something good just happened. And instead of celebrating, we get offended because we weren’t included the way we thought we should be.

     Then what started as hurt feelings turned into a full blown fight. And before it’s over, 42,000 people are dead. Not because of the enemy, But because of division among God’s people.

    And then there’s that moment where they have to say the word to be able to cross the Jordan. Shibboleth. They used it to identify who belonged and who didn’t. If you couldn’t say it right you didn’t make it.

     That part just sits heavy on my heart. Because we still do that today just in different ways. We don’t always use a word, we also use opinions, preferences and church culture to make people feel like "you don’t sound like us" "you don’t do it like us". Think about it... We know the lingo, the dress code and sometimes even the magic words to get by while others are left to figure it out or be left out. And before we know it, we’re drawing lines where God never did.

     It looks a lot like what’s happening in the church today. So called prophets( yeah I said it)attacking each other. Calling each other out publicly. Tearing each other down. Not out of conviction But out of pride. Fighting over platforms, and followers, over likes and shares. Somewhere along the way, it stops being about God and starts being about being seen.

    Here’s what keeps coming up in my spirit...

They won the battle But they were losing their brotherhood. They had victory on the outside But brokenness on the inside.

     We need to check our hearts today. We need to ask God to help us not just win battles and lose people. Don’t let pride creep in disguised as being right. Don’t let offense turn into division in our hearts. Because not every fight is worth it. And not every disagreement should turn into a war.

     The enemy doesn’t always have to attack from the outside. Sometimes all he has to do is get us fighting each other.

    Today lets celebrate what God is doing even if we weren’t invited into it. Let's cheer each other on and encourage each other. Let's make it a happen to see what God is doing even if its not in us or through us, and celebrate his goodness and the miracles he's done in and through others. The Kingdom was never meant to be divided. We're all in this together. Let's build each other up instead of tearing each other down.

    Lets Be the ones who carry peace, protect unity, and keep it about Him.

Love Pastor Mandy

Ark of Hope Ministry 

Daily Reading Judges 12