Devotions this week based on the Message: “United or Divided?”
“Did you hear what Mark did?”
“No, I didn’t. What did he do?”
“Well…(and the story is told.)
Without verifying the truth of the story, we can easily buy the tale that was told and form our opinion about an individual based on a half-truth or outright lie someone else tells.
We hear a soundbite on the news, read a post on Facebook, or see a video on Tik Tok and all of a sudden we form an opinion about a person or group of people…often not favorable. We see and hear and read what we want to give us an “excuse” to not like or interact or agree with a person.
Again we don’t take time to verify the truth, we just believe what we first hear.
All around us Satan likes to use his favorite tactic to divide us: half-truths and lies.
Unfortunately, he can use unexpected individuals: Family and church leaders. (NOTE: I am not trying to cast doubt on your family and church leaders…but read what happens as they interact with Jesus!)
Mark 2:20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
Jesus had just driven out a demon and people were beginning to see more clearly that Jesus was more than just an average rabbi. They were beginning to see him as the Messiah, the promised one descended from David.
But Satan couldn’t have people following Jesus. For him, this is the worst. So he uses potentially trusted individuals to tell lies about Jesus.
His family…”He is out of his mind.”
The teachers of the law…”He is possessed by Beelzebub (Satan)!”
Neither of which, of course, was true.
This is the extent that Satan will go to bring lies through people we normally trust. This is an example of how hard Satan works in the sphere of God’s family and God’s church to bring lies and half-truths to lead people away from Jesus, rather than strengthen their connection to Jesus.
Today he does the same.
Churches teach that the Word of God is with error and man-made and while contains the Word of God cannot be trusted in every word it says.
Church family members create a story or narrative around words taken out of context, or actions misjudged or taken in the worst possible way which results in division between individuals.
Satan can use us to. We must be wary of our heart and mind so we do not let him use us to drive a wedge between an individual and Jesus and his Church.
Disunity comes from the lies of Satan. A dissection of division in families and churches finds the lies of Satan at the root.
The best way to restore unity, especially in the church? Unite around the truth of God’s Word and let “one little word of truth” overcome the lies and deceptions of Satan.
Apply: How has/does Satan use lies and half-truths to cause division in your relationships/church? What truth of God would help to restore unity?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, let us always unify around your truth to weed out every lie of Satan, regardless from whom they are spoken. AMEN.