A House Divided

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Scripture: Luke 11:17-20 (ESV)

17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Devotion:

            In today’s passage from Luke, we see Jesus after casting out a demon from a man. The religious leaders accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of the prince of demons. Jesus responds by the speech we have recorded above.

            The implications of Jesus response are obvious. No kingdom that is divided against itself can possibly stand. Deep divisions weaken a kingdom (or nation) and enable enemies to defeat that kingdom. This saying has a long history of being used for political purposes. The most prominent example being Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech in 1858. As usual Jesus’ words carry the full weight of divine wisdom and power.

            Jesus would surely warn present day America is in danger of the same type of division caused by slavery in the 1800’s. Certain political and social forces are at work in this country that if left unchecked will destroy this country from within. These forces are eating away at the very fabric of our nation. Some forces in our culture have rejected God and seek to live lives of radical independence from His rule and statutes. While others cling so tightly to the way things have always been done that, they cannot let any fresh air in, and they refuse the work of the Spirit in this age.

            What is a Christian to do in this bitterly divided age in America? First, those who take the name Christian should be committed to loving their God and neighbor above all else. The question then becomes what this kind of love looks like put into practice in today’s world. I believe that this love seeks most of all to love those and speak for those who have no voice in today’s hyper-politicized world. The least, the last, and the lost in this world are always those whom God seeks to befriend. Let us, as Christians, seek to help those who cannot help themselves. Let us bring healing to those broken by the world.

Prayer:

            Lord, hear our prayer. We seek your help today to minister healing to our broken and divided world. Grant us your strength to stand up for those who have fallen and been crushed by this world’s system. May we be witnesses on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. Keep us in your care so that we may, going in your strength and power, may be able to right some of what is wrong in the world. Glory to our God forever. Amen. 

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