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Wednesday, June 10, 2009
An Undivided Heart
The Pharisees heard the people saying this. The Pharisees
said, "This man uses the power of Beelzebul (the devil) to
force demons out of people. Beelzebul is the ruler of
demons." Jesus knew the things that the Pharisees were
thinking. So Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom that is
fighting against itself will be destroyed. And every city
that is divided cannot continue. And every family that is
divided cannot succeed. So if Satan (the devil) forces out
his own demons, then Satan is divided. And his kingdom will
not be able to continue."
-- Matthew 12:24-26 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Incredibly, we can assign good deeds to bad motives or evil intent when
those good deeds are done by those we don't like or hold as our
enemies. Jesus faced this same problem. But Jesus reminds us that Satan
and his forces already know what most of us intuitively realize when we
think about it: you don't advance your own cause by causing division
and rivalries. Satan also knows that if he can divide us, he can more
easily defeat us. Jesus' point, however, is that even united, with all
the evil one's forces intact, he could defeat Satan because he was
stronger than Satan. Jesus went into Satan's stronghold and defeated
him. With his help, we can, too!
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Holy and Almighty God, I believe that in Jesus you showed your power
over the evil one. Please come with your power and might and completely
eliminate his influence over me by sending Jesus to bring us home to
you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
>> NEW: Phil's What Jesus Did devotional is now
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>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/matthew/0610-wjd.html
>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Matthew+12:24-26&sr=1&t=erv
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