House divided
by Sal Huckel
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Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters (Luke 11:23).
Read Luke 11:14–23
It might seem incredible that Jesus himself would be driving out demons, and there would be onlookers divided in whether he is driving them out in the name of the prince of demons or whether it was the ‘finger of God’ (verse 20).
We may often quote the wisdom of Jesus that ‘a house divided against itself will fall’. This is true of families, churches, even businesses. How can Jesus drive out demons with the power of demons? This is what his comment means. If he is driving out demons with demonic power, then Satan truly is a house divided. We know Jesus was driving out demons with the power of God because he is God. No division there! Our God is three in one: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus and the Holy Spirit were present at creation, God is never divided.
Let us model Christ in this regard too. A house divided against itself will not stand. Meditate on this. What does this mean for you today – in your family, church or business?
I am reminded of this hymn:
The church’s one foundation
is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is his new creation,
by water and the word.
From heav’n he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.
Elect from every nation,
yet one o’er all the earth,
her charter of salvation:
one Lord, one faith, one birth.
One holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with every grace endued.
Though with a scornful wonder,
men see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder,
by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping,
their cry goes up, ‘How long?’
and soon the night of weeping
shall be the morn of song! (SJ Stone, 1866)
Lord, may we be one in the gospel – and undivided – in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.
Sal is married to Pastor Matthew Huckel, and they live in Victoria with their six children. Music, theology, literature and languages are passions the family share and explore together. Sal loves writing, speaking and walking to the beach at every opportunity.
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