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A Divided House - September 19, 2006
"But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.'" Matthew 12:25
"If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." Mark 3:25
"Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: 'Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.'" Luke 11:17
A house can be a family, a church body, or a country. Did you know that in the Civil war, more than 364,000 persons died in battle? That is way more than the total casualties from all other wars combined, that our country has been in (except WWII)!
If there is strife, contention, discord, etc., then the house is divided. It is not of one accord. If arguments, stony silences, yelling, screaming, hitting, grudges, resentments, unforgiveness, or misunderstandings are present, there is division.
The house may hold its own and function enough to get by. But there is no healthy living, no peace, and no joy. And there is no outreach; it remains self-serving and self-sustaining.
Sometimes things have to be like this for awhile, until they can get better. But as they say, "If nothing changes nothing changes." If things don't eventually improve, and unity manifest, there is no fruit (like peace, or joy).
This subject is important enough that the Holy Spirit impressed the gospel writers to include it in three of the four Gospels. We not only want to stand, we want to grow, and spread out. We want to bear fruit- lots of good fruit. We want to share the Good News with a dark and hurting world dying to hear that Good News.
We need the love of God in our hearts. We need to look at Jesus, through absorbing the Word. We need the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit. Fortunately for us, all of these are available, anytime we turn around to the Lord and ask for His help.
Unity, not division. It's God's plan.
That's good news.
Prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we praise you today, and we ask for Your divine help to achieve true unity in all of our houses. In the name, and through the blood, of Jesus. Amen.
Contributed by Sally I. Kennedy: boca7565@bellsouth.net Sally is the author of "52 Little Parables from Ireland" Creation House Press.
"But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.'" Matthew 12:25
"If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." Mark 3:25
"Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: 'Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.'" Luke 11:17
A house can be a family, a church body, or a country. Did you know that in the Civil war, more than 364,000 persons died in battle? That is way more than the total casualties from all other wars combined, that our country has been in (except WWII)!
If there is strife, contention, discord, etc., then the house is divided. It is not of one accord. If arguments, stony silences, yelling, screaming, hitting, grudges, resentments, unforgiveness, or misunderstandings are present, there is division.
The house may hold its own and function enough to get by. But there is no healthy living, no peace, and no joy. And there is no outreach; it remains self-serving and self-sustaining.
Sometimes things have to be like this for awhile, until they can get better. But as they say, "If nothing changes nothing changes." If things don't eventually improve, and unity manifest, there is no fruit (like peace, or joy).
This subject is important enough that the Holy Spirit impressed the gospel writers to include it in three of the four Gospels. We not only want to stand, we want to grow, and spread out. We want to bear fruit- lots of good fruit. We want to share the Good News with a dark and hurting world dying to hear that Good News.
We need the love of God in our hearts. We need to look at Jesus, through absorbing the Word. We need the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit. Fortunately for us, all of these are available, anytime we turn around to the Lord and ask for His help.
Unity, not division. It's God's plan.
That's good news.
Prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we praise you today, and we ask for Your divine help to achieve true unity in all of our houses. In the name, and through the blood, of Jesus. Amen.
Contributed by Sally I. Kennedy: boca7565@bellsouth.net Sally is the author of "52 Little Parables from Ireland" Creation House Press.
