43“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45)
Thoughts: Jesus had come, healed, and cleansed. He had performed miracles and His teachings had helped the land and people. Though the people accepted his miracles, they did not accept Him. This made it worse. They knew His power and His claims but rejected Him- opening themselves up for all kinds of spiritual evil. Rejecting God opens ourselves up to selfishness and pride but the restraints placed on us by self-control and the Holy Spirit are also lifted. It was not long after Jesus that the land was devastated with war and most of the people were kicked out of the land for almost 1900 years. Within a generation of rejecting Jesus (by 70 AD) the people were wiped off the land.
But the lesson is a broader one than to just the generation that rejected Jesus. The lesson is that we should fully accept Him (not just temporarily or half accept Him).
Prayer: Lord, Let me embrace the cleansing you offer my soul and my life. Let me hold fast and persevere in my faith in you.
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