John 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

This verse weighs heavily on my heart today. I am at odds with another devotional writer. We do not see eye to eye. I could run down a list of things that annoy me about his methods but I have a check in my spirit that says no, don’t.

Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

It is God’s place to make this man do His will. I do not know him, we are not in fellowship. I do not have an opportunity to engage him in conversation personally. Correction if required is God’s job here.

All I can do now is to be sure that I do not do those things which I deem inappropriate, misleading and are self-serving. I am here to serve God. I am here to serve you. I am not here to serve myself.

I have withdrawn from the study group to keep from doing any further harm. I trust those that I am in fellowship with, know them and God will reveal Himself thru the scriptures. That is all that matters here, that God be seen.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

My prayer to my God, and not for me to pray that anyone else has to do the same.

John 7:40-43 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him.

Here is a diversity of opinion. Each one had a reason for believing what they believed. Even if they were not sure, they wanted to be right of a truth. Christ came to unify His people and is not responsible for the division that occurred, at least not here at this time.

What do you know of the people in this place and of this time? What have you been taught? What do you remember? Who taught you and under what authority? Would any of these people be any different than us considering the diversity of culture in this region?

Of a truth, Jesus was an outsider everywhere He went. All you have to do is follow His earthly path and note a sojourner of the first order. Born in Bethlehem but did not live there. Moved to Egypt, but never took up citizenship. Moved to Nazareth but was an outsider because He was a Jew in a gentile majority. Lived in Capernaum and not many, if any, even remember it.

Matthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Of a truth Jesus had no place to call His home, owned no land, nor house, nor material goods. Yet in spite of all that He had a Kingdom because of who He was of a truth.