NOTE AND AVOID
Romans 16:17-19 NKJV
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
It is ironic that Paul spent a good amount of time warning the church in Rome not to judge one another. But here, at the end of his letter, he is admonishing the church to note and avoid a particular group of people. Don't judge them; just note and avoid them.
The people Paul warned the Roman church about were those causing divisions and offenses in the church. These divisions and offenses were in direct opposition to what had been taught to the people. It is one thing to disagree but entirely another to cause division. And the word offense is the word for a person being entrapped, and the entrapment could ruin the person in question. To cause someone to become offended to the point that it ruins their faith and hinders their walk is never ever a good thing.
Paul said that people who caused divisions and offenses were not serving the Lord Jesus. Instead, they were serving themselves. These people often resort to smooth words and flattery. And by smooth, slick words and flattery, they deceive the hearts of those who are simple. The simple are the people not discerning. People can be highly intelligent but not discerning. Whenever smooth words and flattery are in the air, red flags and warning sirens should go off.
Paul wanted the church at Rome to continue in their obedience to the Lord. But he also wanted them to be wise when it came to what is good and innocent when it came to what is evil. What a mission. Wise to good and innocent to evil.
APPLICATION
I don't know if we have realized just how much the "Big C" church has been hurt by division and offense. The problem is that when we are divided and offended, we are distracted from advancing the Kingdom of God. And to add to that problem, people become disillusioned from their walk with the Lord on a personal level, especially the offended ones.
My prayer in this election year is that we are able to note and avoid division and offense and keep our eyes on reaching people as representatives of Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, help us become wise to what is good and innocent to what is evil for the sake of Your Kingdom.