Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Search Archive Print This Article Gentle fingertip of Jesus Thursday, March 3, 2005 Luke 11:14-23 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons." Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils. "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters. Touched by the finger of God I am purified and suddenly recognize the landscapes of the kingdom of heaven. Scales fall off my eyes, fingers come out of my ears, all my senses alert themselves to the presence of God. He's walking in the garden, he's calling my name, and I come running. Driven-out, driven-over, driven-back demons nuzzle and nudge and whisper and tickle me to take them back. Their offers have so often been attractive. I've invited them in. Life seemed good for awhile. And now, too nothing really stops me - it's just that the Holy Spirit is so much more vibrant and real and ... holy. I don't think about myself now. I am following Jesus, and where he leads me is my only destination. Satan and my sin are overcome by love. Jesus touches the evil with his finger and it burns up, but I am not even singed. God holds me gently and carefully, and removes all the junk. He lets me run free, and I run back to him. Because he loves me. Jesus, your touch is tender and true and makes me whole. "; Add      Edit    Delete