Wednesday, September 3, 2026
“I
came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze!
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how it consumes me until it is
finished! Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No,
I tell you, but rather division. From now on, five in one
household will be divided: three against two, and two against three. They will be divided, father against
son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law
against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Luke 12:49-53
The “sword” that Jesus brought with him in
the first century was not made of tempered steel or iron; rather it was the
dividing line of an offer to stand with Him, or against Him. And the dividing line is so sharp, just as a
lethal blade can slice anything in its path, this dividing ideology of for
Jesus, or against Jesus impacts eternity for
whichever side an individual chooses.
To say that humanity is somewhat divided
is to miss reality by light years. Have
you listened to a political debate or newscast lately? Read the daily reports of crime and violence,
or check the statistics on divorce, and even children seeking emancipation from
their parents. And the major reaction
from any generation to a former generation’s ideas is the eyeroll that
proclaims a definitive statement, did the asylum give you a day pass?
Now that division which Jesus came to bring is
not simply generational arrogance. Rather
it is the starting point for any discussion of theology. To be on board in Scriptural
understanding, we must first settle who is in charge; is it the latest fad of
cultural bias, old time religion that grandma said, a denominational booklet of
do’s and don’ts, or is it the Creator, Lord of Heaven’s host, Son of God, the
everlasting King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
In this text recorded by Dr. Luke, Jesus said
He came to bring that division; He claimed HE is in charge of the
universe and everything (and person) in it.
That is the meaning of “LORD”!
Forget the earthly “lordship” of kings and land barons, this is THE
LORD of time, space and eternity.
He created it all, and has the deed and title, signed, sealed and
delivered, from in the beginning!
So, it was this LORD who decided there would
be a dividing line. Now remember, Jesus
said He brought the division with Him; He did NOT say He wanted to
divide people. It’s just that when there
is a yes and no, up or down, right or left, people will make their choices;
that is where the division originates, in the minds and hearts of people. Jesus was bringing light to the pathway of
making the right choice, which is to open your heart and let Him shine that
light on the sins anyone has still lodged in their hardened hearts.
For You Today
With His own blood, Jesus offered the free
gift of redemption, the forgiveness of all our sins. Have you made the choice to receive that
forgiveness? That’s important, because there
is coming a day when the opportunity to make choices will come to an end. On that day Christ will come with the sword
of judgment for unforgiven sins – those for which you didn’t kneel and confess,
and Jesus washed you clean.
This is what Jesus said that next moment in eternal
history will look like:
You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!
[1] Title
and Other
Image by Roger Casco from Pixabay
Unless noted, Scripture quotes The Christian Standard Bible©
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