Traveler's Log

Julie Wenning

February 8, 2010

Today's Passage: Matthew 12:15-32

Hello! I have the pleasure of sharing life with my husband, Craig; our toddler, Caleb; 11 wonderful ninth-grade girls; eight rambunctious ninth-grade boys; and a terrific community. Yesterday, I celebrated my last birthday in my twenties. Despite previous poor choices I am now striving to be a fully devoted follower of Christ.

I had three odd jobs to pay for my first car and college: selling fireworks, providing janitorial services, and selling my blood plasma. My last paying job was teaching at West Dallas Community School, and my current job of raising our son is the best imaginable.

Key Verse:

And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand." (Matthew 12:25)

Central Truth:

Division brings confusion, pain, and destruction. Followers of Christ want to multiply God’s love, but division within gets in our way.

ADD IT UP: TO MULTIPLY, WE NEED TO SUBTRACT DIVISION

In responding to the Pharisees, Jesus announces a universal principle that a house divided against itself cannot stand. I’m thankful that my family are all Longhorn fans, so we never had to display a “house divided” sign and support both UT and its less-well-known rival. This is just one of many ways that we divide ourselves today. Other divisions in a house can be between husband and wife (Proverbs 21:9), mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, or child and parent. But the greatest of these divisions comes within ourselves—between our own heart and mind (1 Chronicles 28:9).

Like others, I have division in my life. My heart wants one thing, and my mind another. My actions don’t match my words. (Romans 7:18-19) During most of my teenage years, the faith I professed on Sundays was not consistent with how I lived the rest of the week. Even today, I struggle with seeking performance-based acceptance from others rather than pleasing God alone. Daily, I need to remind myself to put my selfishness aside and serve others, trusting and obeying God. In my role as a leader of high school students, I am called to multiply the gospel—to call young women to greatness, a life following Christ. I’ve realized, though, that I can’t multiply anything unless I remove the division in my life.

In Matthew 12:25, Jesus knew the Pharisees' thoughts just as He knows ours. “Pharisee” in Hebrew means “separated ones.” They believed rewards and punishments were based on keeping the Law, but their hearts were separated from God. The Pharisees missed that Jesus' power came from God because they had been blinded by their self-righteousness. The longer we pursue Christ, the more easily we can take on the Pharisees’ attitudes and substitute doing for God rather than being available for God to work through us.

Whether our hearts, actions, homes, or relationships are divided, we are in trouble with division in our midst. In Matthew 12:25, Jesus says that anything divided against itself cannot stand. If our goal is to multiply Christ’s love in others, we must first remove the division in ourselves.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the division in your life that prevents you from multiplying Christ’s love?

2. When are you too quick to look at division in others rather than in yourself? (Matthew 7:3)

3. What divided relationships do you need to mend?

4. What is your guide for how to resolve division (conflict) biblically? (Matthew 18:15-17)

FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Who did the prophet Isaiah say that Jesus was?

2. What is prophecy?

3. Can we trust that what God says will always come true?

Comments

Craig Wenning

February 8, 2010 08:22:09 AM

Thank you for modeling and multiplying Christ's love in our home. Caleb and I are blessed beyond belief. We are both incredibly grateful to have the Prov 31 woman.

Bill

February 8, 2010 08:54:53 AM

Julie: What a great message to start the week. I always like to look outside myself to find fault and your reminder that the division we need the most help with is within was spot on! A huge issue that Christians need to face today is division within the Church. And there also we need to look into our own hearts first.

Richard Baker

February 8, 2010 09:33:34 AM

Julie-Greetings from Half Moon Bay,Ca. Thank you for this reminder and challenge as I begin a very busy week. Division seems to sneak up and slip into our lives often without being aware of the negative impact it has in our personal relationship with Christ. Diotay and I are so blessed with the witness and impact you have had in the critcal stage of Carley's life as she activily pursues God's desire in her daily life. Thank you and may God bless you!

mo sadjadpour

February 8, 2010 10:25:25 AM

Julie, Encouraged and convicted by your devo. Have a wonderful day and thanks for challenging me to look within.

Bart Johnston

February 8, 2010 10:35:36 AM

Julie Thanks for reminding me how "dividing" my heart/mind, actions and house have led to my struggles today...but more importantly...this message reinforces how essential it is for me to trust in Christ, no matter what my "worldly instincts" might tell me. Have a great day!

Kate Dodd

February 8, 2010 11:18:40 AM

Julie - Thank you for this devo that encouraged me to examine the condition of my heart - something I know I need to do every day!

Carrie Green

February 8, 2010 01:09:46 PM

Julie- Thank you for your encouraging devo! When you said, "I can’t multiply anything unless I remove the division in my life" rang loudly for me. I have gotten hung up so often in my life because of this. Thank you for the great reminder today!

Susan Coy

February 8, 2010 05:30:33 PM

Julie, loved your comment, "The longer we pursue Christ, the more easily we can take on the Pharisees’ attitudes and substitute doing for God rather than being available for God to work through us." Thanks for your insights today and tell the Governor hello :)