If you've read Mark 3:20-29 then you're familiar with this parable, if not confused by it a bit.
Jesus goes on to paint a picture of the consequences of division on every level, in every space...and reasonably speaking, if even a demon were divided against itself and its cohorts on every level then it's safe to safe that it would not be fruitful on any level.
Jesus doesn't end with this picture. He goes on to make two points:
- He isn't possessed by evil, in fact, His strength over all evil, pain and suffering is a sign of One Stronger than Satan himself. The Son of God to speak candidly.
- To claim the Holy One is actually rooted in evil and His divine work an overflow of evil...brings with it dangerous eternal consequences - separation from that very Holy God.
But I'm not talking about either of those points directly. In fact, I want to go back the image of the divided kingdom and lean into it's ramifications in our own lives as followers of Christ.
Sure the parable is not intended to be dissected and sorted out for my own gain...so I won't claim this is what Jesus had intended this particular parable to communicate. I will, however, use it as a launchpad for evaluating our own lives.
If you've followed this blog for any length of time you heard me talk about 'Spaces: public, social, personal, intimate' and how each one of us lives within each of these spaces. In fact, a healthy disciple experiences each of these spaces regularly.
SO what about this parable? Let's break it down in reverse and simultaneously evaluate our own context:
'Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration...
'And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand?' Have you ever wrestled with your purpose? Spiritual gifts and how to use them? How to lead your family? Your own value in particularly challenging seasons?
Have you ever felt a lack of peace about a particular area of life...or your current life as a whole for that matter? How easy is it to move forward, to gain traction, to be clear-minded and self-controlled in order to stand up against temptation, doubt, attack, sin? To live a divided life for any length of time guarantees destruction both slowly and eventually cataclysmically.
We know that a man who stands firm in Truth, in the Word, is one who stands the test of time. How incredibly important it is to be a man/woman at peace in transformation into Christlikeness, not without questions, but confident that we are guided by the Spirit and so personally engaged in being a disciple of Christ, while making disciples who will do the same.
If we're personally divided, how can we prosper with our families?
'Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart.' Catch that? Pretty self-explanatory right. A husband and wife who argue as if it the very sustenance of life will not hold up for long, in fact are already falling. A couple divided in purpose, mission, value and simple but profound love for one another and the Church cannot stand, at least not with an unshakable strength, a strength that will prosper the Kingdom.
Several years ago I recall changing how the small group leaders of my church were going to receive discussion content for their weekly gatherings. I can't forget responding to a phone call from one of our leaders. She had heard of the changes and in a state of panic pleaded with me not to change our methods. Her reasoning? This change was going to upset her husbands (one of our smallgroup leaders) calm and quiet relaxation space, their home. This change was so monumental (printing off their own handouts) that she was scared of her husbands response and it's impact on his 'serene' space, the family space.
Are you tip-toeing around one another? Are your kids the brunt of that frustration? Or are they the first fruits of your disciplmaking? If you're married are you leading your wife or encouraging your husband?
If you aren't engaged with Jesus personally you probably aren't as a family. If you aren't engaging Jesus together as a family then you're prone to feuding and open to be severely weathered by storms.
'A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse.' Let's be honest, if we aren't maturing in Christ individually. If we aren't on mission as a family. How on earth are we going to serve the Kingdom and expand the family of God here and now?
If we aren't growing in the intimate areas of our lives. If we're weak in the personal and social spaces. The largest space has not foundation, there are no building blocks for it to stand on.
A forgiven and healing heart, mind and ultimately soul is one that is ripe for maturing in Christ. A willing heart leads his/her family.They serve, sacrifice, proclaim Truth with grace and model it. A growing disciple reaches beyond themselves to pour into others - disciplemaking. A body of disciplemakers is a healthy, growing, expanding Kingdom - the very Kingdom Jesus invited us into and so handed us the keys to.
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It's quite simple isn't it? A divided kingdom on any level falls apart and if not remedied in the intimate space will most assuredly over time wither and collapse.
Jesus is right of course. That even Satan divided amongst himself would not stand. How much more the body of Christ if we ignore His power of transformation in every aspect of our lives. Christ is the one who can defeat the strength of the evil one - let's let Him lead the way and so follow.