Divided or United
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. Mark 3:24
In today’s reading, Jesus was being accused of working for the devil because He was casting out devils. He tells the people there a parable about binding and plundering the strong man before you plunder his house, but He started by saying a kingdom that is divided against itself cannot stand.
This statement is true on every level. Whether it is Satan’s domain or an earthly kingdom. Unless a country is united and in agreement in laws and spirit, it will not last through the divisions.
It is the same in God’s Kingdom and although we know in heaven, there is total agreement and His Kingdom rules overall, His kingdom in this world is a little shaky. Yes, the church body widely sends missionaries around the world to get the message of salvation to all, and we all worship the one true God in heaven. It gets a little unstable when we argue over doctrines and procedures. Many denominations raise these issues above the more important issue of Jesus and His provision of salvation and love for all people.
Jesus said on many occasions that He desired mercy/compassion over rules. His focus was always reaching to hurting people and He always started with love for others wherever He was. This is where our focus as a body of believers needs to be. We do not need to watch and criticize how other congregations love and worship God and we do not need to govern the actions of other denominations to gage their spirituality. Yes, our actions are important, but what is most essential is that we are walking in the action of love toward all people including our brothers and sisters in the LORD.
Today I want to encourage you to walk in agreement. Live your life in agreement with God’s Word and walk out your days in accordance with His love. When all believers of Salvation in Christ Jesus come together, the enemy will not be able to bind the strong church and the gates of hell will never prevail with divisions and disunity.
Today’s scripture reading: Mark 3:20-30
20 Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
21 But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”
22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”
23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.
27 No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.
28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter;
29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”—
30 because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
The Daily Dose 