Title: Purge the Negative/Topic: Unity

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 19; Deuteronomy 20; Deuteronomy 21; Galatians 3

Scripture: Deuteronomy 20:1-4; 8
1 When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. 2 When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. 3 He shall say: "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. 4 For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."
8 Then the officers shall add, "Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too."

Observation: God is powerful and God is on our side. He tells us so. But one negative person has the power to discourage a whole group and bring defeat because of his negativity. This is why anyone with anything but an enthusiastic and determined attitudewas sent home and not allowed to participate in what God wanted to accomplish.

Application: When we are facing the challenge of doing anything great for God we must not only control our own attitudes and focus on the almighty power of the Lord to accomplish whatever task it is that he has set before us, but we must also send away negative people who would discourage and dissuade us by sowing doubt in our minds. I believe this applies to us when we have an individual goal we are trying to accomplish or a group goal. We must have unity and single-mindedness.

Prayer: Father, help me to discern immediately when others are sowing doubt, fear or discouragement in me or in others and help me to separate myself from them. Help our church to maintain a spirit of unity and faith so that we may accomplish all you have in mind for us to do. And help me to never be one of those who disheartens others. May I live full of faith and enthusiasm so that I may see your great deliverances and miracles on our behalf.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.