AN UNDIVIDED HEART: LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
- Key Verse
- "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." (Mark 3:24)
READ TODAY'S PASSAGE-
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
The kingdom of God is not divided. Jesus has bound the strong man and united His people through the Spirit.
Reflections
Most of my life I felt like a wimp. I was unable to overcome certain sin struggles and mature into the man that God desired me to be. Isolation was my downfall. I thought that I could find all the answers and do it on my own. I thought that if I made mistakes no one had to know. I was wrong. The more I kept to myself, the more I continued to fall. I was imploding on the inside and leaving a wake of messed-up relationships and missed opportunities behind. I kept good appearances before my peers, but never let anyone know the hurts deep down inside. My heart was divided against itself, and I could not stand. I was finished.
Jesus was anything but a wimp. He was a man of undivided devotion. He was always on mission and never rattled by His circumstances. Even when accused of being possessed by Satan, Jesus calmly and logically addressed the accusation by stating that it is impossible for Satan to work against himself. Jesus went on to demonstrate that the Spirit present in Him must be greater than Satan or else Jesus would not be able to cast out demons. The bigger truth here is that each of us has that same Spirit within us. So why do we often feel defeated and unable to experience the victorious life?
The key is in the concluding verses of this passage. When Jesus asks, "Who are My mother and My brothers?," He is, in essence, redefining our relationships. We have a spiritual family because we all are connected by the same Spirit that was in Jesus. No more living in isolation. We are our brother's keepers. If one man falls, we are to help him to stand.
So what does life look like for me today? Well, it is not perfect, but I am learning to entrust myself to others who have the same Spirit of Christ living in them. It is making a world of difference.
Discussion Questions
1. Is your heart divided? If so, why?2. What keeps you from entrusting yourself to the care of others?
3. What are you doing to build and strengthen community in your life?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What had Jesus not done in verse 20?
2. Who came to take Him home because they thought He was crazy for not eating?
3. Why was He willing to sacrifice His comfort for the people to be healed?
4. Are you willing to sacrifice a meal so someone else can know Jesus? Are you willing to have people think you are crazy when you sit with the lonely person at school?
5. What else can you sacrifice so others will know God’s love?
Eric C
May 7, 2010 10:55 AM
Love it Chad! Jesus is no wimp...nor should anybody be a wimp who truly follows him. Thanks for the encouragement this morning!!!! 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 - Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.
Gwendolyn
May 7, 2010 11:08 AM
Chad, thank you for sharing this. Very encouraging and challenging. Its wild because I just read on the danger of being divided in heart yesterday. I know if I am really honest, isolation is a common struggle for me too, not fun. Its good that the Lord created us to be in relationship with others-community, to realy know Him. For without them, we'd be islands. Trusting others and trusting God is not always as easy either, due to fear. But thankful God's way is far different and far better. Thankful for the sacrifice that was a step of faith that Christ gave of Himself, which reveals He is trustworthy. Thanks again.
Marcus
May 7, 2010 11:57 AM
Encouraging word Chad!
Leonard
May 7, 2010 01:09 PM
great word/truth for us today Chad! Thanks!
Gwendolyn Aragon
May 7, 2010 01:43 PM
Chad, such an encouraging and powerful message. Its wild.Yesterday I was reading about the dangers of living a divided life, the war on the soul... the devil's tactic. Praise God He made us to be in relationship with Him, in community. If not, we'd never make it. I've been there and still wrestle with it too. Not fun at all.I struggle with a desire to be in community and a desire to isolate due to fear and lack of trusting God and others, fear-related reasons, not of God. God is teaching me that because of Christ's ultimate sacrificial love, that is more than enough reason to believe that I can trust Him (and others). Honestly, takes time to trust again, but I know thankfully with Him all things are possible, even staying in community when I don't want to. SO grateful for the Holy Spirit's power "in me" who helps me to see Christ's way is far different than a life of fear based on the past. Thank you for sharing the truth, Chad. Well-said, timely wisdom.( :