out demons.” Jesus called them to him, and began teaching them by means of stories, or
parables. How can Satan drive out Satan? If a nation is divided by civil war, that nation
cannot stand. If a family divides itself into groups, that family will not survive. In the same
way, if Satan has risen against himself and is divided, he will not stand; he is finished. No
one can break into the house of a strong man in order to plunder his goods, unless he first
ties up the strong man. Then indeed, he can plunder his house.

Truly, I say to you, every sin will be forgiven humankind, even insults to God, however numerous.
But whoever slanders the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. He carries the guilt of his sin forever.”

This was their sin when they said, “He has an unclean spirit in him.”

Reflect

Every day it seems that the divisions in our society become more obvious, often flaring into
anger and violence. We are divided by race, religion, national origin, religion, gender, economic
status – and the list goes on.

These divisions eat away at the unity to which we are called in Christ. God desires that his people
be one, for in that unity we find our strength. Social media and the digital climate allow people to
isolate themselves from those who live differently and who hold different views. We can spend our
lives hearing only echoes of our own opinions, never challenged to learn or grow, falsely believing
that this isolation is actually unity. The unity that God desires is not narrow uniformity, but the unity
of a single Body of Christ, each member valued. In this Body, we live and breathe as one,
caring for each other in love and compassion.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2023