Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand
Jesus, refuting the Pharisees and questioning their logic in their attack of His character and purpose, paints a picture of a present reality. He illustrates the diametrically opposed kingdoms of God and of satan. Jesus explains in certain terms that those who align with the Kingdom of Heaven align against the kingdom of satan and vice versa. Jesus explains that no in between exists.*
This clarity in kingdom dynamics suggests that when we think that the way we live in secret “doesn’t hurt anyone” or when we think that the decisions we make are “no big deal,” we are deceived. The enemy would love more than anything else to convince us that we have not acted against the Kingdom of Heaven, but that we simply are in a space in between Kingdoms that causes no harm. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Furthermore, it explains to us that to expand the Kingdom of God, we must engage our wills in an intentional effort to invite His will to be done. To fail to engage our will to invite His will to be done, we fail to expand His Kingdom, leaving room for the kingdom of the enemy to expand. There is no void of space. One Kingdom or the other will fill that space.
This question remains: who’s kingdom are you and I expanding? Are our actions making room for and expanding the Kingdom of God? How does the way you live your life intentionally make room for the will of God to be done here on earth as it is in heaven?
In my life, I do not always say things as kindly as I should. I do not always operate the patience that I need to speak gently with my children. I do not always give ear to God’s voice in times of hurt, but I listen to the voice of the accuser (satan). Considering the kingdom implications of each of my life situations can help me to partner better with God in what He wants to accomplish on earth as it is in Heaven.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to adjust an area of your life to align to His Kingdom. Perhaps God would have you close the door and kick out the company in the a space in your life that the enemy has found room to operate and destroy. Maybe today God wants you to invite in His Holy Spirit to fill the spaces where the enemy once operated.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 313–318, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 12:22–30) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).