Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

This is a safe place, right? Have you been out shopping and seen someone that you didn’t want to get stuck in a conversation with? If you are lucky and see them before they see you, you can make a quick turnaround and sneak down a different aisle to avoid an uncomfortable situation. If you don’t detour quickly enough, a 5-minute trip can turn into an hour-long conversation in the middle of the grocery store. And yes, I realize I have probably been the one being avoided once or twice.

Now I realize this probably isn’t on the list of best practices for people who are called to practice hospitality. Availability has been a long conviction of mine and something I pray regularly that God will grow in me. I genuinely desire to be a person who is known for availability, not avoidance. However, according to Paul in our reading for today, avoidance is sometimes necessary.

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; AVOID THEM.” Romans 16:17

Honestly, this language seems a little jarring to me. Avoidance, at least when it comes to people, is always framed as such a negative in my mind.

One thing I think is important to point out here is that causing divisions and creating obstacles is not at all the same as confronting, correcting, or coaching. We, myself included, tend to avoid people who confront and correct the things in us we would rather ignore or not talk about. A person may not be trying to cause a battle when they say the hard things to us, even if they say it poorly. They may be trying to remove an obstacle in our life that we have yet to acknowledge or accept. Motives matter greatly here.

"For such persons DOES NOT SERVE OUR LORD CHRIST, BUT THEIR OWN APPETITES, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” - Romans 16:18

Here is the litmus test. Are they pointing to the good of the Gospel, or the good of themselves? An even better question to ask is, am I pointing to the good of the Gospel, or the good of myself? Avoid divisive people, not difficult conversations.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
  
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
  
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
  
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
  
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.