When we want to get our way and show people we are right we fall to an old routine that has been used since the beginning of time. When someone doesn’t do things our way and totally upsets the apple cart with a new way of thinking that does not agree with our way of thinking we say, “You’re the devil”, meaning you are evil because you don’t agree with me.
The religious elite, the ones in power driven by human desires alone, used this trick to discredit Jesus. They called Jesus the devil! Have you ever been called the devil?
Matthew 12
Jesus and Beelzebul
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
HOLY PAUSE
“Whoever is not with me is against me,” says Jesus.
So, whose side are we on today?
“…a tree is recognized by its fruit”, Jesus teaches. What kind of holy “fruits” are we bearing so that others will recognize clearly whose side we are on?
Let’s review the fruits explained in Galatians 5 that develop in us by yielding to God’s Holy Spirit…
“22-23 But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
23-24 Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.
25-26 Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.
That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.
Galatians 5, The Message
“…a house divided against itself cannot stand.”
What would happen to all divisiveness if we all turned away from worldview thinking and accepted, believed and followed Jesus with all our hearts, minds and souls and lived life generated His power living in us?
Be like Jesus.
Run from being like the devil.
Run to God!
Dear Lord,
Thank your for all you have done, all you are doing and all you will do as you garden, nurture and bear Your fruits in our surrendered lives. Thank you for pruning what is unnecessary and harmful in our lives. Thank you for assuring us that you are our only Hope. You are Truth. You give us lasting unchanging Love that is exudes mercy and grace. Thank you for Your Word, cascading your promises of eternal life to all who believe.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 