Daily Bread

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

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;
and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

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; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’

Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.

‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

No, these words of Jesus are not to be taken literally! Jesus was not a warmonger!! In fact, there is plenty of evidence that Jesus both taught and practiced non-violence. For example, when one of his disciples drew a sword and attempted to defend Jesus with it, Jesus commanded him to put his sword away, and he healed the man. (John 18:10-11). So what did Jesus mean by saying this?

Jesus was using a figure of speech that presented an aspect of truth in a striking and apparently paradoxical way. He wanted to make his listeners think.

Jesus was saying that his ultimate purpose was to bring peace, but that the bringing of that peace would cause division and opposition. There would be those who would accept the gospel message and there would be those who would reject it, and the message to the disciples was not to be surprised if they got kick back.

The Christian is called to put God first — over everything — and this is counter-cultural. Culture tells us we must put ourselves first — our wants and needs, our job, our health, our families — the list is endless, but a Christian must love God first, over all. And when we do this, we pit ourselves against the tide of culture. It is almost impossible to be counter-cultural without encountering opposition or struggles.

Today, may you choose to put God first, trusting that God has your best interests at heart. Try to listen to the Spirit's leading and be obedient — even when it may cause you difficulties or lead to being ostracised or rejected by others.

Holy God
I will put my trust in you,
go wherever you call me,
and serve you with all my heart.
I will put you first in my life,
for you are my sovereign
and saviour, my all in all.
I will praise your holy name,
now and forever.