Good morning,
Not peace, but division
While Jesus was here on earth he made many wonderful promises and gave us trustworthy guidelines for living our lives in a way that would bring honor to God’s name. It is understandable that we should all want the benefits of obedience and fellowship with our Savior, but Jesus said some things that were really shocking. In Luke 12 Jesus was giving his disciples directions about how his followers should behave, dealing with money and the things that they would need for living and reminded them that soon he would be leaving earth and how to be ready for his coming again. Then he said something that I have never heard a modern pastor talk about. Jesus said, "I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!(Lk.12:49) Since we now have all of the New Testament, we know that Peter talked about the same thing in his farewell letter when he wrote, Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.(2Pet.3:11,12) Jesus knew the end of his world as well as it’s beginning. Jesus was also suffering with the truth of his fast approaching ministry on a cruel cross, so was also struggling with the reality of what would happen to God’s family after he left. He also said, Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!(vs.51) Jesus does love the world and he has a special love for his children, but he also knew what we would face in this world because we loved Him. Jesus knew that when we actually live holy and godly lives it will be normal for families to split apart because only some of them would love and follow God.(vs.52,53)
Remember what Paul wrote to the church in Rome, For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will.(Rom.8:7) When people don’t love God, they are not going to love God’s people either. God’s genuine children are people who are led by the Spirit of God. When we are led by the Holy Spirit, the way we act and live means that, The world cannot accept him,(the Spirit of Truth) because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.(Jn.14:17) Given all that Jesus told us here it shouldn’t surprise us when we live in such a rebellious world that parents and children will find themselves facing the challenge that Jesus gave us when he said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.(Jn.14:6) If we are genuine children of God, the most important part of our lives will be based on following the loving guidance of our Savior, not ourselves or our worldly family or friends. Another thing we must face is that the truth that God has given us will be what we actually believe and then follow Jesus no matter what others think. Finally, as we go through life we will rely on God’s Holy Spirit for strength and we will be looking at life from an eternal perspective instead of a time based outcome. Dear Lord, please help us to keep our eyes fixed on you and not on any other source of truth.
John 14:6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Roy Wisner
