A House Divided
A HOUSE DIVIDED
Read Luke 11:14-20.
“Look at the way Kim is wearing her hair,” snickered Beth to her friend Cayla.
Just then Kim turned and looked at the girls. She seemed to know they were talking about her, but she just said hello quietly and sat down.
This is how Mrs. Newton began the Sunday school class. “Someone said, ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’ Who was it?”
Beth’s hand shot up. “Abraham Lincoln. We just studied the Civil War in school.”
“Right,” said Mrs. Newton. “Our country’s people were fighting each other, and Abraham Lincoln wanted to teach Americans that they needed to be united if they wanted to be a strong country. But did you know that Jesus first spoke almost those exact words?”
There were many looks of surprise as Mrs. Newton continued, “Unity among Christians is even more important.” For the rest of the class time Mrs. Newton read many Scripture verses to teach the class how to show Christian unity. “When we talk about others in an unfriendly way or do things that hurt other Christians rather than help them, we’re dividing our own house,” concluded Mrs. Newton.
Beth thought of her unkind words about Kim’s hair. She knew she had divided God’s family instead of helping it grow strong. Silently she asked God to forgive her, and after class she went up to Kim. She asked, “Would you like to come over to my house this afternoon?”
Kim smiled. “I’d like that,” she said.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes say unkind things about other Christians? Do you think it will make you look better? Not so. You not only hurt that person, but you also hurt yourself and other Christians. When Christians are divided against each other, the whole church suffers. Work together, not against one another.
TO MEMORIZE:
Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.
Luke 11:17
CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE UNITED.
From the book
