What is the danger of narcissism or political motivation within the Church Body?  When I am looking at me, I am not listening for God’s direction.  When I am manipulating people, assets and situations for my own intention then I am winnowing energy necessary to complete God’s Plans.  When I am segregating people and things toward achievements built within my own vision, I will naturally divide, segment and divert people, assets, time and energy such that I limit our over all potential.  We see the effects of this division in every city across our nation, where Churches are all trying to succeed on their own with no general cooperation.  This division of potential whether by denomination, color, ethnic origin or simply ego places the victory within our cities outside the realm of achievable goals, thus keeping us from the radical breakthroughs or miracles we know are possible in Christ.  This is America in my day, where the enemy has largely convinced us we must remain divided, fractured and mediocre instead of embracing the victory promised us by Almighty God.

The good thing is that He also uses all things for the good of His Good Purpose for them who love Him and walk according to that Purpose.  That means even when I have less than perfect intentions He intervenes through my actions and turns things to His desired results.  That is comforting, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all stopped in fighting, back biting, segregating, territorializing and setting up our own little religious fiefdoms instead cooperating to achieve His intentions for our cities, towns and counties?  That may be why Jesus hates the practice of separating the professional clergy from the laity.  For when we have a professional clergy they develop their own vision for their church with a little “c”, thus diverting from the overall vision of Jesus’ Church, with the big “C”.  Isn’t that what led satan to fight against God in the first place, his ego, his pride, clouding his judgement to the point where he actually believed he could lead successful rebellion?

I have had enough of my own rebellion.  Certainly I have a reasonable measure of ambition and vision, but that vision should never limit what is possible if I simply dedicated myself to giving God all the Glory by applying one hundred percent of my time, talent and influence to achievement of Kingdom directives.  Do you see the divisions in your own church, your community, your city, state or country?  How can you help heal these divisions and bring people together so that God may heal this land, build bridges and cooperative effort toward resolving some of our greatest problems.  We all know that if we do not work together that we cannot do what must be done.  Why then do we continue to settle for second best?  Lord, help me to bring you into every interaction today.  Please heal these wounds that have been festering for decades in our cities.  Give our leaders fresh vision of cooperation and self-sacrifice, a vision that may have been present in our God fearing past but has been forgotten or overlooked for our own pursuit of glory.  Let me be humble in my service so that you may hear my prayers and heal this land as I turn from my own understanding and embrace Your Vision for Creation.  Give me the power to overcome fear, division and ego to encourage a better world.  In Jesus’ Name.