Среда

(2 Cor.9.12–10.7; Mark 3.20–27) “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (Mark 3:24). As long as there is unanimity of sinful wickedness within us, the kingdom of darkness and sin remains strong within us; but when the grace of God attracts the part of the spirit captive by sin to itself, freeing it from captivity, then division occurs within: sin on one side, good on the other. As soon as, as a result of this excitement, a person is combined with goodness through consciousness and freedom, sin loses all support and goes towards decay. Constancy in the accepted good intention and patience in working on it completely upsets sin and destroys it. Then the kingdom of good begins within, and remains until some evil thought creeps in and, attracting willfulness to itself, again produces division. Just give way to the emerging sinful impulse, combine with it and put it into action - again good will begin to weaken, and evil will grow until it completely destroys it. This is an almost continuous history of the inner life of those who are weak-hearted and have no strong character. You might be interested in: