²² But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.”

²³ Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked. ²⁴ “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. ²⁵ Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. ²⁶ And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. ²⁷ Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

²⁸ “I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, ²⁹ but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” ³⁰ He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”

Mark 3:22-30

Dear God, what struck me from this story this morning was the part about the strong man (verse 27). It made me think of Philip Yancey and the recent revelations about struggles he’s had. It then makes me think about myself, for I am no Disney Princess. At some point, Mr. Yancey apparently allowed something into his “home” that he didn’t bind up. Instead it bound him. It would be easy for me to look at him with righteous indignation and judge him for his moral failing. But that is the foolish thing to do. What I need to do is ask the question, What do I allow into my “home” that might bind me up?

There are all sorts of ways Satan can come into the temple of my body and start to wreak havoc. It can be obvious stuff like pornography and lust. But sometimes, while tempting, that is too obvious. Probably the more dangerous things I can let in are insecurity and helping myself to have more self esteem by putting others down. I can let anger, even righteous anger, fester into bitterness if I don’t prayerfully figure out your call on my life to address it. I can let coveting what others have for things I want that I can’t afford turn into greed. I can let fear turn into idolizing “certainty” and build idols that are apart from you that I think will bring me peace.

So what do I need to do to make sure the Holy Spirit, my strong man in my heart, is not bound up, but flourishes and has complete access to protect every area of my heart? First, it starts with prayer times like this. Honest inspection of my heart and allowing you to explore it with me. What am I doing and where am I failing? Search me, oh Lord! What am I allowing into my “home” or heart? What am I inviting in that might either strengthen your access to my heart or hinder it? Give me eyes to see and ears to hear. And then what am I doing to fulfill your commandments of loving you with everything I have and loving my neighbor as myself? Show me, Father, how you are calling me to worship you and to serve others.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen