hard words from Jesus

Luke 12: 51-53 "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth?  I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.  They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

 

Luke 14:26-27 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.  Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple."

 

Jesus uses a shock treatment to get our attention, at times.  We have become so comfortable living in an unhealthy condition that we must be shaken.  There are some hard truths that call for hard words, but Jesus has our best interests at heart.  The only peace that truly is peace is the peace we can have with God.  We don't start out with this peace automatically.  Our nature is to miss God and to exalt ourselves.  But if this is carried out for a lifetime, we will ultimately miss God in the forever space of eternity.  It is understandable that Jesus grabs us by the shoulder and shakes.  I don't believe that Jesus prefers that members of a household become fractured.  I believe that He would prefer for every member of the house to embrace Him.  But I think that He knows that this is not the way it always plays out.  The tight bonds of love that naturally exist in the home can only be surpassed by one greater love...the love of a Creator God and His Redeemer Son for lost children.  The only proper way to respond to this love is by accepting it.  This leads to a changed heart, a new perspective on life and eternity and, as a result, even those closest to us may not recognize the new creature we have become.  For this change may not have taken place yet in their lives.  And, once we have accepted Him into our heart, there really is only one way to follow Him properly...with all we have.  The door is narrow to Heaven and we need clear direction to find it and to help others to find it, as well. (And surely we long for those in our homes and families to find and to embrace His love and His peace!)

 

blessings,

Rob Smith