Speech Therapy

Paul closes his epistle to the Romans with some final greetings and a final warning. This warning is found in 16:17-20. Here Paul makes one final theological application to his first main point of the letter: All men are sinners. Paul says to "note those who cause divisions..." "mark them", in other words, keep your eye on them; identify them, and "avoid them." Paul was warning these "simple" i.e., "sincere", "innocent", "unsuspecting" Roman Christians to watch out for those who go around dividing churches with their false gospel, false doctrine, and false information.
Today, a rock solid church may be on guard against a false gospel and false doctrine, but that's when Satan is sneaky. He then uses 'false information' to divide a church, in other words "gossip". Gossip is an extremely painful sin that destroys lives and the life of a church. And gossip does not necessarily mean false information. You can injure people with the truth as well. Proverbs 11:13 says, "A talebearer reveals secrets (to hurt someone), but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter." And just as Paul instructed us to avoid such people, the writer of Proverbs admonishes us as well, "He who goes about as a tale bearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips." (Prov.20:19).
Prayer:
"Lord, help me to be on guard against anyone who causes divisions in my church. And help me to avoid them in all possible ways. Lord help me to not be like divisive people, because they are a slave to their own desires. They are not true servants to Jesus Christ, because they hurt people with their words. Lord Jesus I pray that my speech will always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that I may know how to answer each one. In Your name I pray, Amen."