Michael Meadows in First Brethren Church

3 years ago • To public

Mark 3:20-35 -- Isn't funny how when people don't agree or are afraid of the message they rely on name calling to get their view point across. Does this sound familiar? Today, people are just as apt to resort to name calling before even trying to discern the truth. And what those that leave us with? DIVISION!!! Jesus said that a house divided cannot stand. I believe that this country, our world, even the church is so divided in these days that I'm not sure that Jesus' words won't be realized in many of our lifetimes. Destruction, not just physical, but spiritual destruction is the inevitable result of a world turned on itself. Is there a cure, a way to stop the inevitable? Unity of the church, unity of God's people is the way that we defeat the strong man, in this case the source of our division and that is Satan. He is the one we are fighting, not each other. But he has turned the hearts of many and instead of being transformed we are merely conforming. Which means we would rather be right than to be loving. We would rather be heard, than to be truthful. Which in my opinion is a type of blasphemy because it's putting ourselves in the position of God. Which, by the way, none of us are good at. Notice who Jesus calls his mother, his brothers. Verse 35; “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.” It is not God's will for us to be a divided people, it is not God's will for us to slander one another and spew hatred -- it's God's will for us to be of one mind and edifying and loving. How much longer can we as a society hold up against the strains of division? I do not know; but I think when it starts to fall apart we will see the final chapter of God's story -- Jesus coming as King and Lord to restore what we have so negligently destroyed. May God guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus as you seek to live at peace with everyone.