“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household”.
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Today’s words sum up the commission to follow Christ. In conclusion, Jesus says the results will not be as peaceful as we might expect. A man will be turned against his own father. Parents will be turned against children and vice versa.
It really can’t be any other way if the standard is that we must love Christ more than “all these”. How many of our children will be content to learn that we love Jesus more than we love them?
Strife is to be expected…
But…look at the upside. When we walk into a room, and somebody accepts us for who we are…authentic bearers of the message of eternal life…they, in turn, accept Christ Himself. They have just crossed over to eternal life. It doesn’t get any better than this!
But…we just have to worry, don’t we?
We beat it to death. When I was younger and I led somebody to Christ I got very nervous that they must not have actually gotten it. So…I followed with 20 questions to make certain they had the theology right.
It was all very silly. The vulnerability was not in the quality of their acceptance, but in the quality of my message.
When Paul tells us he is “not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because it is the power of God unto salvation” He is probably saying the fact they believe it is the evidence that we told it properly. So, take God at His word. Hone the message carefully so we know we have it right. Then…when that person accepts us…they really have accepted Christ.
And all we did was tell a story…
Live boldly out there today…
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