Wednesday Devo

Read Luke 12:49-53. It is important here to remember a key to understanding scripture - scripture interprets scripture. Jesus is the prince of peace. He said, "blessed are the peacemakers" in Matthew 5. His point here is that many times in the process of bringing peace people must decide whose side they're on. It is no different during a war. The end result of Jesus' ministry will bring peace to all men. The 3 years leading up to his resurrection was a time of great division.

The religious and non-religious alike had to decide what to do with Jesus. Jesus came to bring peace to our hearts and peace with our father God. But in the process we are often at odds with those who oppose this message. The gospel message that Jesus came to save us from our sins naturally brings division. There are many who don't want to admit they need a savior. They take personal offense to the gospel and see Christians as having a superiority complex.

Don't assume just because someone doesn't like you that you are not in the center of God's will. The key is we need to let the message of the cross do the dividing - not our personalities! The message of the cross is offensive enough to the hard hearted. We must ask ourselves is the message of Jesus dividing families and churches or our poor explanation. Many Christians take the bait of using the gospel to beat up those who don't see the truth - if not to their face - behind their back. Paul said, "its your kindness Lord that leads us to repentance." 

The more division we create with the truth we live and preach the greater the opportunity to show the love of Christ. When the message of salvation for sin has offended the lost they expect us to kick them while their down. Instead we lay our life down for them as Jesus did even for the Pharisees. At the end of the day they may not repent but they will know God sent his people to live among them. They will know we are Christians by our love.

questions

1) Has the message of Jesus ever turned you off? Perhaps the way is was presented?

2) Are you bold enough to risk conflict by sharing the message of salvation for sin?

3) Jesus said, "Do you suppose I came to bring peace on earth?" Have you ever mistakenly thought you should be having peace on earth? Have you forgot the main goal of the Prince of Peace was to bring peace between you and God? If we forget that - what might it lead to?

prayer

Father we want your heart. We know the message of the cross cuts many deeply and to others its just foolishness. Lord let us live the crucified life and absorb the division it brings. Show us where our heart are wrong toward others who have rejected us for righteousness. Let us not be timid in the face of rejection. Let us not be vindictive in the face of rejection. Let us wash feet.