Daily Bible Reading for February 11th

 

Reading for February 11th

Chapter 6 - Shooting Below the Waterline

Chapter Focus: Pages 33-35

“Peter understands the greatest threat to the Christian movement was not from the outside. It was from within.” pg. 33

One of my all-time favorite movies is “The Hunt for Red October.” If you’re unfamiliar, this movie is based upon the Tom Clancy novel of the same name that follows the story of a defecting Russian Nuclear Submarine Admiral who defects to the United States. The story is filled with drama, with twists and turns coming at rapid speed. 

At one point later in the film, one of the Russian sailors who didn’t defect becomes a danger to everyone. He, working alone, attempts to derail the entire situation, harming both Americans and the treasonous Russian party. He was, by far and away, the greatest threat and he came from within. 

To quote Rev. Shane, “sin inside the church is a cannonball aimed well below the waterline. Sin in the church hinders our mission, produces internal division, and tarnishes our witness to the world.” Amen.

Sins of anger, frustration, pride, envy, greed, or dishonesty cause great damage to the church of Jesus Christ. Churches have been torn apart equally by those who have both intentionally and unintentionally allowed their sins to control them. How do we solve this? 

Focus on removing the plank from our own eyes. 

We all have “stuff.” There are the “big” sins that we are keenly aware of, and there are those “smaller” ones that sneak their way into our lives. All sin is dangerous and seeks to tear us away from God. For some people, simple awareness of their sin is enough to begin the process of repentance, but others may require much more help. Counseling, intervention, and accountability with others are all possibilities. Let’s not become the one shooting cannonballs below our waterline. Speak well, be encouraging, offer grace and forgiveness, and repent. 

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Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the ways I’ve been guilty of causing harm to others. Soften my heart and show me where I miss the mark. Don’t let me stay in this spot, but turn me towards the light of Jesus Christ. I pray this all in his mighty name. Amen.