Today I had to write a short devotion on Lk. 12:49-56, which is a part of the Bible that is assigned to this week in a church-calendar book many denominations use called the "Lectionary." Thought I'd share it here, since it addresses the fact that even as Christians, our lives are almost never completely 'peaceful'...even by definition!
"In Luke 2:14, within the Christmas story, we read that Jesus’ birth was bringing ‘peace on earth’…but then within the Lectionary passage for this week, Lk. 12:49-56, Jesus says, “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division!” Well…which is it?
Both. Jesus brings peace, unity, and division all at the same time. He gives the ‘peace that passes all understanding’ in terms of the ceasing of inner rebellion against God that makes our hearts restless until they rest in Jesus’ love. He gives unity among all true believers, that transcends personal preferences and personal ideologies to bind us together with his love. But, since our peace is then in Jesus rather than some other leader or nation or ideology, and our unity is with other believers in greater measure than with other people who do not believe, we are therefore by definition set at odds with some other leaders, family members, nations, religions, and ideologies…even before we interact with them directly at all!
Jesus was never hateful toward individuals, yet he was hated by some people who did not like his message. He spoke in support of natural families, but his call to follow him sacrificially meant that some people had to choose Him over their non-believing family if their family opposed Jesus. Likewise, we can expect both peace and disharmony, unity and division, to be a part of our Christian experience. It’s not easy, and definitely not always fun…but take heart. Christ has been there already, and will carry you through as you continually pray to Him!"
