Luke 12:49-53 “peace” eirenen On a quiet, cold evening, the shepherds watched their flocks. And then, out of nowhere, an angel military division (that’s what a ‘host’ is, after all) appeared and shouted, “Glory to God in the highest! Peace on earth!” And the shepherds ran to Bethlehem to see this thing that had happened. And all those old prophecies came to life in that baby they saw in a stable: This was the Prince of Peace! …and now Jesus says he’s come not to bring peace, but division? How does that work? Go back to Monday. Jesus said he was looking forward to pouring out fire on the earth. He does that to protect his people as well as pronounce justice on those who have rejected him. Do you want to suffer those flames? I think I’m right in assuming you don’t. But if you don’t want to suffer those flames… you will need to be separated from those who will suffer the flames. You need to be divided from them. And so Jesus tells you outright: He’s come to divide you from those who reject him. As long as you’re with Jesus, you’re going to be different. And that difference will lead to division. We don’t like that, do we? We like living in peace with our neighbors. We don’t like rocking the boat with our friends. We don’t like causing conflict with those we love. We want peace in this world. The problem is, peace in this world is hate toward Jesus. John 15:19 says it this way: “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” You get to have a choice: You can either stand with Jesus and be divided against anyone that isn’t with Jesus, or you can have peace with your non-Christian friends and neighbors and be at war with God. So it comes down to a simple question: With whom would you rather be at peace: God or man? When those angels appeared Christmas night, they sang about peace… peace with God. They weren’t singing about world peace or you having a relaxing life. They were singing about how God was bringing peace to us – through his Son dying on the cross. He divides us from the world to create peace with him. What do you do when you face that rejection? What happens when you’re not at peace, because you stand with Jesus? Do what Jesus did yesterday: Look ahead. That conflict is worth the peace you have with God. Go Deeper: • Read Luke 12:49-53. Do you see the kinds of conflict Jesus predicts? Have you suffered that level of conflict within your own family? Have confidence that even when you experience that kind of division, you have a family in Christ, and you are at peace with God. That peace is way better than a fake peace in this world! • Are you nervous about losing peace with your friend if you share Jesus? Well, you might be divided from that friend. Instead of fearing that division between you and your friend, see the division between your friend and God. Share that Jesus desires to be at peace with your friend. That offer of peace is worth the possible division! You made a plan yesterday to share Jesus. Well, time to do it! And keep praying for wisdom and courage! • Are you at peace with the world around you? It’s time to examine yourself and see if you’re living as a Christian, then. The only Christians that don’t have division are those who are so weak that they’re not worth Satan’s time, or have fallen into sin. Which is it for you?
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:54:41 +0000
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