A Morning Cup of Tea: A House Divided

Good morning! How are you today? Are you sitting relaxed by the fireside admiring your tree, sipping a cup of hot tea? Or are you fidgeting and mentally going over the list of tasks still to be done before the twenty fifth of this month? I admit my mind is a little scattered this morning, especially hearing my dear son, who just ate two minutes ago (literally!) in his room singing "go eat! go eat!" Matters not to him whether we go out or stay in just as long as he's fed. But I'm getting off subject here and I should probably get back to writing things down as they come to me so I can focus on the task at hand.
  Having a divided mind though, is close to today's reading. Luke 11:14-26 tells us that Jesus cast a devil out of a man who, having been dumb, began to speak after the devil was gone.  Some of the people who witnessed this decided that Jesus was casting out devils through Beelzebub, chief of the devils (v 15).
  17. But he (Jesus), knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falleth.
 This is true in so many areas of life. When there is division two things can happen: a) continue to feed the fire and find the house or kingdom in ruins or b) realize the problem and fix it. 
  But Jesus was telling the people there is no way he could be casting out devils through Beelzebub because that would not help Satan at all. When Jesus or those whom he had given the power to do so cast out demons they were destroying Satan's work, not helping him.
  Jesus said in verse 23 if you arent with me you are against me. If you aren't gathering you you're scattering. (Paraphrased).
 We should heed these words in all areas of our lives --in our congregation, our marriage, our families. 
  In verses 24 through 26 Jesus warned that when the unclean spirit is cast out, the devil will look for a new home. When he finds none, he will come back to the original place and find it swept clean and empty. Then he will invite seven more just like him and the problem is even worse. Meaning? In ridding yourself of a sin, an empty space is left. If you don't fill that space with something good then the problem comes back. What happens when we clean out our closets, ladies? We throw out or give away clothes we no longer wear and then we see all that space begging to be filled. You can either revel in the fact that you now only have what you truly wear and can find what you're looking for then turn your attention elsewhere, or you can find yourself at your favorite clothing store buying items that look great in the store but at home you hate. And your husband is wondering why you're staring in disgust at an overfull closet declaring "I have nothing to wear!"
  Have a wonderful day.

Good morning! How are you today? Are you sitting relaxed by the fireside admiring your tree, sipping a cup of hot tea? Or are you fidgeting and mentally going over the list of tasks still to be done before the twenty fifth of this month? I admit my mind is a little scattered this morning, especially hearing my dear son, who just ate two minutes ago (literally!) in his room singing "go eat! go eat!" Matters not to him whether we go out or stay in just as long as he's fed. But I'm getting off subject here and I should probably get back to writing things down as they come to me so I can focus on the task at hand.
  Having a divided mind though, is close to today's reading. Luke 11:14-26 tells us that Jesus cast a devil out of a man who, having been dumb, began to speak after the devil was gone.  Some of the people who witnessed this decided that Jesus was casting out devils through Beelzebub, chief of the devils (v 15).
  17. But he (Jesus), knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falleth.
 This is true in so many areas of life. When there is division two things can happen: a) continue to feed the fire and find the house or kingdom in ruins or b) realize the problem and fix it. 
  But Jesus was telling the people there is no way he could be casting out devils through Beelzebub because that would not help Satan at all. When Jesus or those whom he had given the power to do so cast out demons they were destroying Satan's work, not helping him.
  Jesus said in verse 23 if you arent with me you are against me. If you aren't gathering you you're scattering. (Paraphrased).
 We should heed these words in all areas of our lives --in our congregation, our marriage, our families. 
  In verses 24 through 26 Jesus warned that when the unclean spirit is cast out, the devil will look for a new home. When he finds none, he will come back to the original place and find it swept clean and empty. Then he will invite seven more just like him and the problem is even worse. Meaning? In ridding yourself of a sin, an empty space is left. If you don't fill that space with something good then the problem comes back. What happens when we clean out our closets, ladies? We throw out or give away clothes we no longer wear and then we see all that space begging to be filled. You can either revel in the fact that you now only have what you truly wear and can find what you're looking for then turn your attention elsewhere, or you can find yourself at your favorite clothing store buying items that look great in the store but at home you hate. And your husband is wondering why you're staring in disgust at an overfull closet declaring "I have nothing to wear!"
  Have a wonderful day.