Saturday 23 Aug 2014

August 23: Mark 3:20-27

Key Verse: Mark 3:24
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

Devotion:
When we go about God’s business there are going to be some that object to what we are doing. Some will be because we are stepping on their toes and some of it will be because we are taking away their authority. People like to build up their own authority so they are in charge and in control. Some people are simply not willing to give God control of their lives and will not go down that path. But knowing that God is in control and that He has His way in your life is actually very fulfilling!

There were people thronging to see Jesus at this stage, so much so that they did not even have space enough to be able to eat. This clearly upset the authorities and they immediately blamed it on Satan saying that Christ had the devil inside of Him – that was the only way they could explain why Jesus was more popular that their church. What they did not realise was that Christ was working at building up the church and not dividing it.

When we try to get our own way we often step on toes and trip each other up; that leads to conflict and getting things wrong. That leads to us upsetting each other and not being able to work with each other. That will then divide the church as we know it! Christ did not come to divide the church but to separate the church from the world so that it could grow unabated. The people in charge thought differently because they felt like they were losing control and did not want that to happen.

Sometimes we do have to step a little bit out of our comfort zone so that we are open to new ideas and new ways of working with God. Sometimes it is the old ways that are holding us back because we get stuck in those ways instead of rising with Christ. If you are scared about change then compare what you think you should do with what is in God’s Word. If what you are suggesting will go against God’s Word then it is not coming from God. He will not break the church apart. He will not break down what he has built up. He is working toward building the church with us!

Points to Ponder:
Do you always agree with other church members?

Do you compare what you do with God’s ways?