14Now he was casting out a demon that was dumb; when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people marveled. 15But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Be-el'zebul, the prince of demons"; 16while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul. 19And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 20But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace; 22but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. 23He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
Jesus cannot be Satan as claimed by the onlookers. Because Satan would not be fighting against himself. I often think of this passage when I see people doing good and living a virtuous life. Where does Good come from? My grand daugter says “heaven”. Clearly, where there is good there is God. Is it then reasonable to say that if one orients one’s life toward good, one is orienting one’s life towards God? Jesus says, "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Luke 11:23). This implies that while goodness is from God, true discipleship requires an intentional choice to follow Christ. Loving Father, walk with me and give me the courage and resolve to follow Christ. Amen.
ReplyDeleteI think your reflection is both insightful and deeply personal. You’ve beautifully connected the passage to the nature of goodness and how it ultimately draws us toward God. Your granddaughter’s simple yet profound answer—"heaven"—resonates with Jesus' teachings that all good flows from God.
DeleteI also appreciate how you wrestle with the distinction between doing good and intentionally following Christ. Your use of Luke 11:23 reinforces that Jesus calls for more than just moral living; He calls for active discipleship. It’s not just about doing good but about aligning that goodness with God’s will, recognizing His authority, and walking with Him in faith.
Your prayer is powerful in its humility—acknowledging the need for courage and resolve to truly follow Christ. It’s a reminder that faith isn’t just about avoiding evil but about making a conscious choice to gather with Christ rather than scatter.