The angels announced “Let there be peace on earth!” Luke 2:14. We sing of peace at Christmastime. But the Prince of Peace spoke hard words about war:
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a SWORD. I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother… and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household” Matthew 10:34-36.
Wow. No one makes Christmas carols out of those words! And there’s more:
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves…. You will be HATED BY ALL because of Me.” Matt. 10:16,22.
Following Christ is like Special Operations—you’re not just in the Navy. You’re a Navy SEAL. Getting in is tough; staying in is tougher. Walking with God will pit you against loved ones. Friends may oppose you, family not understand you. Associates, teammates, and peers may fight you with all their strength. Examples? God calls you to a life of honesty, but friends expect you to help them cheat. God calls you to holiness, but relatives expect you to watch things with them that are not holy. God expects hard work, but coworkers expect you to only go halfway, and if you obey, you make them look bad. God calls you to walk away from a lucrative career to preach in a tiny church—and everyone thinks you are crazy. God calls you to witness to Muslims in Saudi Arabia, and your family fears for your life and fights you angrily.
Again, Jesus says, “I did not come to bring peace but a SWORD.” He expects you to follow Him. EVEN TO THE CROSS.
“Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Anyone seeking to save his life will lose it, but he who loses his life, for My sake, will find it” Matt. 10:38-39.
God, give us the courage to obey you, no matter the cost. Thank you for being honest about hard things. Call us to hard things and help us OBEY.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 