LONGSHOT

03APR24

34 Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 10:34-39 (ESV)

Jesus did not come to bring peace. He came to sacrifice himself for the broken and the flawed. He was spit on, rebuked, whipped, beat and crucified. He lived the life we cannot live, and died the death that we deserve. Just as people hated him then, people hate him now.

How many of you have lost friends because you have professed your faith in Jesus Christ?

How many of you have been made fun of or ridiculed for your faith?

We are called here to put nothing above our Savior. We are called to seek first the kingdom of God in all we say and do. Our parents do not hold the keys to our salvation, our jobs do not hold the keys to our salvation. Our salvation is in Jesus Christ who is victorious over death, and he has the keys to our eternal life. We are called to die to our flesh, to pick up our cross daily, and follow him. Expressing this type of love for Jesus does not result in peace, but division. A love for Jesus will divide families, it will fracture and sever friendships, but their is no greater friend, no greater relationship, no greater of a Savior than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Dear Lord, give me the strength to pick up my cross each day and follow you. Give me the strength to praise you, even when its not popular. Give me the strength to speak truth and good news even if it means friends and family members disagree. In Jesus name I pray, amen.