Scattered Scatterbrains

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. 

But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. 

When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11:14-23)

Jesus’ opponents made a mistake.  They said he was able to drive out demons by the power of Beelzebul.  No, he didn't.  He was more powerful than Satan.  The strong man of evil was mastered by Jesus.  We are supposed to be masters or mistresses of our own lives and to master evil in all its many forms, such as racism and hatred.

We are strong men and women who must be fully armed with faith and courage to guard our own “palaces” we defend with armor we call Christ.  Perhaps the best way to describe these palaces are our hearts and minds having walls Satan continues to try to breach.   

Beelzebul would have us scatter.  He seeks out the scatterbrained among us.  Too many of our government's leaders have that brain condition the prince of demons prefers.  Many of us fall into that same category.  We need the finger of God.

Deacon David Pierce