Scripture Scribbles: June 9, 2024

the Gospel

Mark 3:20-35

Jesus came home with his disciples.

Again the crowd gathered,

making it impossible for them even to eat.

When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,

for they said, "He is out of his mind."

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said,

"He is possessed by Beelzebul,"

and "By the prince of demons he drives out demons."

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,

"How can Satan drive out Satan?

If a kingdom is divided against itself,

that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house is divided against itself,

that house will not be able to stand.

And if Satan has risen up against himself

and is divided, he cannot stand;

that is the end of him.

But no one can enter a strong man's house to plunder his property

unless he first ties up the strong man.

Then he can plunder the house.

Amen, I say to you,

all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be

forgiven them.

But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit

will never have forgiveness,

but is guilty of an everlasting sin."

For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

His mother and his brothers arrived.

Standing outside they sent word to him and called him.

A crowd seated around him told him,

"Your mother and your brothers and your sisters

are outside asking for you."

But he said to them in reply,

"Who are my mother and my brothers?"

And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,

"Here are my mother and my brothers.

For whoever does the will of God

is my brother and sister and mother.

the scribble

After reading this Gospel my memory went to an old camp song, one I remember singing joyfully at summer camp about the “wiseman built his house upon the rock… the foolish man built his house upon the sand.”

I never realized this camp song had a biblical meaning, but it totally does! Our house needs to be built on solid rock! Our foundation needs to be firm! Our faith needs to be unwavering, our trust needs to be total. His mercy is endless “I say to you all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them.” All of our sins? Even the worst parts of ourselves? Forgiven? Forgiven! What exactly does that next line mean? “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness” Yikes! Never.

I’ve heard to “blaspheme against the Holy Spirit” means, “a continual rejection against the Holy Spirit’s call”

So my question to you is, do you realize you are being called? Do you know we are supposed to be listening for His voice? Maybe you didn’t, I certainly did not. Until I did. I remember reading a verse in Isiah 43:1

“Do not fear for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name you are mine”

Now, the work must begin!

Our foundations must be built, our surrender needs to take place. How else will our lives change if we just keep acting like our same old self after we realize the kingdom of Heaven is at stake? I’m talking about eternity!! How do we not get knocked down unless our house is built on rock? How can we possibly stand against the ways of the world, the attacks, and the denial of our faith if our house is divided?

I encourage you to be firm in your faith. Be firm in your belief in the Holy Spirit. Start everyday firmly planted in His Word, and I’ll pray we will all be joyfully singing camp songs together one day for all eternity!

Today’s devotion was written by Beth Brennan