17 Oct, 2011
A House Divided
Sunday was one of those days that we somehow both look forward to and dread all at the same time in our household. It was the day during each NFL Season that we become a house divided against itself. It's the day that the Indianapolis Colts play the Cincinnati Bengals.
I have been a Colts fan for as long as I can remember, but my wife is from Cincinnati. Our oldest son was also born while we lived in Cincinnati and we still have family there. He is an avid Begals fan. Last year we were blessed with the oppotunity to attend the game. This year we caught in on tv. We survived this year, even though his Bengals got the best of my Colts. Now it will most likely be another year before we are again a 'house divided.'
Matthew 12:24-26 (ESV)
24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons." 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about a House Divided?
Our Colts-Bengals household rivalry is pretty trivial compared to what Jesus was talking about when he spoke of a house divided against itself. Check out what the Life Application Study Bible has to say about today's passage ...
In the Incarnation, Jesus gave up the complete and unlimited use of his supernatural abilities. But he still had profound insight into human nature. His discernment stopped the religious leaders' attempts to trick him. The resurrected Christ knows all our thoughts. This can be comforting because he knows what we really mean when we speak to him. It can be threathening because we cannot hide from him, and he knows our selfish motives.
How can I connect today's God's Story to My Life?
How about you? Does your life represent a "house divided"? Is your new life in Christ still at war with your human nature? Ask God to continue to take control of your life by putting your human, sinful nature to death and to ask Him to give you new life through His Holy Spirit.
How can I connect Today's Story, God's Story, and My Story with Others?
- Do you have a friend who struggles with a "house divided"? Get together with them today and ask them how you can help them on their journey of following Jesus.
- Offer to hold them accountable in areas of their life where they are weak.
- Ask your friend if you can spend some time reading God's Story together to help them grow in their relationship with Jesus.
- May 2012 [14]
- April 2012 [19]
- March 2012 [21]
- February 2012 [19]
- January 2012 [18]
- December 2011 [20]
- November 2011 [15]
- October 2011 [15]
- September 2011 [14]
- August 2011 [22]
- July 2011 [19]
- June 2011 [21]
- May 2011 [20]
- April 2011 [20]
- March 2011 [21]
- February 2011 [20]
- January 2011 [21]
- December 2010 [21]
- November 2010 [21]
- October 2010 [21]
- September 2010 [22]
- August 2010 [21]
- July 2010 [22]
- June 2010 [20]
- May 2010 [18]
- April 2010 [20]
- March 2010 [23]
- February 2010 [19]
- January 2010 [22]
- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
- November 2008 [19]
- October 2008 [22]
- September 2008 [22]
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [11]
- May 2008 [19]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [18]
- November 2007 [15]
- October 2007 [19]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
