October 7, 2005
Whoever is not with me is against me Lk 11:15-26
When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
It is a hard saying but true. "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." There are those who divide and work against the way of God. There are those who build up the kingdom of God. We all have free will and it is a choice to follow Jesus and do good acts or question God, question Jesus, divide those in faith, criticize good works and scatter the people. My heart and mind and spirit are all tired at the beginning of this new day. I ask God for strength and courage and wisdom to do God's will in all that I do today as the morning begins.
When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
It is a hard saying but true. "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." There are those who divide and work against the way of God. There are those who build up the kingdom of God. We all have free will and it is a choice to follow Jesus and do good acts or question God, question Jesus, divide those in faith, criticize good works and scatter the people. My heart and mind and spirit are all tired at the beginning of this new day. I ask God for strength and courage and wisdom to do God's will in all that I do today as the morning begins.
posted by Joan Morris at 4:56 AM
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