Matthew 10:34-39
It is very interesting when we look at what Jesus did and said. Jesus’s words have been taken out of context and misused so much over time. In today’s passage, it can look really difficult on the surface, but we have to dive in and see what Jesus was really saying.
It is important to realize that Jesus did not come to bring peace on this earth. Too often, as Christians, we want everything to be easy and not to have to go through any difficulties. Deep down, we long for heaven, and we want to experience it now rather than waiting. We want all the good without any of the struggle to get there. However, Jesus says that He did not come to bring peace here on earth. Our everlasting peace will be found in Heaven. Jesus says instead that He is bringing a sword. Is Jesus inciting violence? By no means. Rather, He is saying that truly following Him will cause conflict in your life. People and family may cause division with you for following Christ. We see this in some aspects in our culture, but not like in other places around the world. There are cultures that, if you become a Christian, your family will cut you off or even consider you dead. They may even have a funeral! This may seem extremely harsh, but it is still worth following Christ over.
Our love and devotion to Christ must be above everything else. I love my family deeply; however, my love for Christ must be greater. My family is in the best place when I love Christ first and allow Him to lead me as I lead my family. If I start to love my wife or children more, our priorities get out of balance. We could start to find ourselves caring about other things more. It is my duty to love my family so much that I love Christ more than them. By that devotion, I truly show what it means to love Christ. This may seem like a difficult concept to grasp, but it is one that is so important. Obviously, I love my family so much, but I must love Christ more. When I do so, I become a better husband and father.
Jesus says it well in the last verses. Peace and ease will not find us here in this life. We must take up our cross and follow Him if we want to find salvation. If we want to grow in our relationship with Him, we must have full devotion, no matter what the cost.
“Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”
Christ must become first. We must surrender our lives to Him! In doing so, we find salvation, true peace, and true hope. Things that this world can never truly offer. It will cost you everything, though. Are you willing to lose and surrender your life to find true life in Him?
It is very interesting when we look at what Jesus did and said. Jesus’s words have been taken out of context and misused so much over time. In today’s passage, it can look really difficult on the surface, but we have to dive in and see what Jesus was really saying.
It is important to realize that Jesus did not come to bring peace on this earth. Too often, as Christians, we want everything to be easy and not to have to go through any difficulties. Deep down, we long for heaven, and we want to experience it now rather than waiting. We want all the good without any of the struggle to get there. However, Jesus says that He did not come to bring peace here on earth. Our everlasting peace will be found in Heaven. Jesus says instead that He is bringing a sword. Is Jesus inciting violence? By no means. Rather, He is saying that truly following Him will cause conflict in your life. People and family may cause division with you for following Christ. We see this in some aspects in our culture, but not like in other places around the world. There are cultures that, if you become a Christian, your family will cut you off or even consider you dead. They may even have a funeral! This may seem extremely harsh, but it is still worth following Christ over.
Our love and devotion to Christ must be above everything else. I love my family deeply; however, my love for Christ must be greater. My family is in the best place when I love Christ first and allow Him to lead me as I lead my family. If I start to love my wife or children more, our priorities get out of balance. We could start to find ourselves caring about other things more. It is my duty to love my family so much that I love Christ more than them. By that devotion, I truly show what it means to love Christ. This may seem like a difficult concept to grasp, but it is one that is so important. Obviously, I love my family so much, but I must love Christ more. When I do so, I become a better husband and father.
Jesus says it well in the last verses. Peace and ease will not find us here in this life. We must take up our cross and follow Him if we want to find salvation. If we want to grow in our relationship with Him, we must have full devotion, no matter what the cost.
“Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”
Christ must become first. We must surrender our lives to Him! In doing so, we find salvation, true peace, and true hope. Things that this world can never truly offer. It will cost you everything, though. Are you willing to lose and surrender your life to find true life in Him?
Posted in Devotional