He takes away his armor in which he trusted ...

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And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

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Have you ever believed in something so fervently only to find out (maybe years later) that what you believed was not 100% truth? I have. I wonder what part of us needs to embrace that kind of thinking? At some level you know that those who accused Jesus of being in league with the devil knew that they were wrong - yet these, because of their pride and insecurity, would not let go of a lie to embrace the truth. And sadly, they now find that they are fighting God.

I wonder if the two men pictured in these verses are representatives of two kingdoms? Perhaps the first is the kingdom of religion and the second the kingdom of God? Residents of the former kingdom trust in external armor and cling to ancient traditions that seemed to have kept them safe for so long. Yet these are not able to withstand the assault of the latter because the armor of the inner invisible kingdom is always stronger than those of the external one.

Help me to always be on your side Lord. I want to gather, not scatter, with you today.

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