ESOCS Devotional 21 October 2023 – Stay Together
MEMORY VERSE: “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Mark 3: 25
TEXT: MARK 3:20-30 (NIV)
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family[a] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
In this parable or narrative, our Lord Jesus Christ made it clear that Satan cannot cast out Satan. This is because, Satan needs to maintain a united front if he is to continue and succeed in doing damage to the human race and attack those who want to follow God.
Although, the Lord is addressing the issue of an erroneous assertion or allegation against Him that He was using the prince of demons, Beelzebub to cast out devils, He nonetheless, revealed what can make and hold a community, household, marital union, and organizations together. The power of staying together is the winning power.
The Power of staying together is the force of unity. Unity is important in all areas where humans have relationships, that is, in marriage, family life, communities, organizations – which have associations of all kinds. If the force of unity is removed, the body will crumble. That was why He said, a house divided against itself will not stand. Division within any sphere is a propensity for self-destruction.
Unity is important. It is all the more essential for the Church of God to walk in it. This is because we have an enemy that will want our fall. The enemy knows without unity the centre cannot hold.
However, if we stay together, we will always win. Every one of us that make up the whole will always find strength and encouragement from one another as iron sharpens iron. That is only possible when they are together to render that sharpening service to one another.
Satan casting out Satan is akin to infighting within the fold. Any branch of the Church given to that will always fall. Only the power of God can help that Church. I believe such a church can only bounce back to live if parties involved in the fight can grab the opportunity given to them by God to repent and reconcile their differences.
Beloved, in the world today, the voice of the Church is not living up to its full potentials because there are different voices of divergent opinions emanating from the midst of Christendom. We need to find our unity by embracing the truth of the word of God in purity.
The undefiled and undiluted truth holds us together. Our Lord Jesus Christ prayed that they may be one. It is very important that we stand together as one in Christ Jesus. Otherwise, we will fall apart. God forbid!
- Beloved, search your soul, which contribution do you make towards the health of the Church of God – unity or disunity?
- Father LORD God, give me the Spirit of unity and love that I may contribute positively to unity anywhere I find myself in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Genesis 42:29–end; 1:1–9; Romans 5:12–end
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ESOCS Devotional 21 October 2023
