The sword of the Lord divides loved ones. There are exceptions in the Scriptures to the rule of people being called alone. In Acts 10, we have Cornelius’ household believing. In Acts 16, we have the jailer’s household believing. Paul makes reference to having baptized the household of Stephanas. However, this isn’t the norm. Jesus Himself was divided from His own household. It says that even His brothers didn’t believe Him (John 7:5). When the Lord lays His hand on someone, it’s to call that one out of an earthly family, into a Heavenly one, from a carnal one to a spiritual one. Jesus is calling one to life. He’s serving notice to mankind that it’s not about this world. He notifies us that the Kingdom of God isn’t about the things of this world. The fixation upon, or the salvation of, that which is transitory isn’t where it’s at. Earthly families are transitory. How about the example of Jesus and His family? Mark 3:31-35 MKJV (31) Then His brothers and His mother came. And standing outside, they sent to Him, calling Him. (32) And the crowd sat about Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking for You.” (33) And He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” (34) And He looked around on those who sat about Him, and said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! (35) For whoever does the will of God, the same is My brother and My sister and My mother.” While they were mending their fishing nets with their father, Jesus called James and John to follow Him. They immediately left the boat and their father. How did their father feel? There he was, suddenly without sons to help him. If their father agreed, such an occasion wouldn’t be so difficult. But what if their parents didn’t agree? What if they didn’t understand, or weren’t willing to accept, what was happening? The sword of the Lord divides loved ones. What could have appeared more reasonable than for those sons to have remained with, and served, their parents dutifully? There was a man whom the Lord bade to follow Him. The man replied, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” The Lord responded, “Let the dead bury the dead.” Apparently, this man’s parents didn’t have faith. To the Kingdom of God, they were dead. But the man was being called out from them to live and serve to bring life to others. The sword of the Lord divides loved ones. Another man asked to first bid farewell to his family. A noble request, right? What did the Lord say in response? “No one who has put his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-62) The sword of the Lord divides loved ones. What could be more proper, necessary, and noble than to take care of one’s parents in their old age? After all, the Fifth Commandment says we are to honor father and mother. But that wasn’t the Lord’s priority for His disciples. Were the ones called to discipleship truly concerned about their parents, or were they struggling with having to part with them? The sword of the Lord divides loved ones. The Lord’s command may sound coldhearted to many. Yes, we are to honor father and mother, as much as we’re able, but when the Lord calls one to service and fellowship with Him, His call is the priority, above His general commandments. Not that He calls you to break the Law - God forbid. Sometimes, however, in testing one’s obedience, it will appear to be so, even as when Abraham was called upon by the Lord to offer up as a burnt offering his son Isaac, his promised miracle son (Genesis 22:1-3). Curiously, the command to Abraham even seemed to call for an abominable act the heathen idolaters practised - “passing their sons through the fire” - sacrificing their children. Furthermore, it seemed to come against God’s own Word in Genesis 9:6, “Whosoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” But Abraham knew God was speaking to him, and he obeyed. Nevertheless, Isaac was spared. So with parents, wives, children, and siblings forsaken; there will come a time when they will also be spared. God will take care of them.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 16:37:20 +0000
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