"ARE WE WITH JESUS OR NOT?"

Readings: Luke 11:14-23

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

Jesus came to rescue us from the hold of Satan and his kind. Satan, the strong man Jesus speaks of, fully armed guarded his possession — the sinful mankind. And this sinful mankind is his “possession”. What an illusion the devil had. For when God in Jesus, a much stronger power, came into the world, the devil was overpowered and lost his firm grip on the human race. It now is a possession of Jesus.

This is where free will comes in. We are given the freedom by God to accept our Rescuer, or we may choose to return to the courtyard of the defeated one, Satan. As Jesus says, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

Everyday we must ask ourselves, “Am I with Jesus or not?” Our activities during the day show what we have chosen.

Sometime, during each day, when you are fully awake, look at yourself doing what you do during the day. What do you see? One who lives as a maturing child of God? Or one who remains and acts childish? Do you see yourself growing more and more like Christ? Or are you humanly and spiritually smothering and repressing yourself?

Remember, by our intentions, by our effort and activities, we are choosing or rejecting Christ. Let us become aware of this and pursue what is best for you and me.