Scripture Reflections: Matthew 10:32-36 32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
Lord Jesus--There is intention in the dualism that you describe here. I must choose to be a part of your kingdom. There may come a time when it not easy to make that confession. My brothers and sisters in other countries are paying that price of owning your kingdom's call. Help me Lord Jesus when it is my turn, to acknowledge you with all that is with in me.
34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - 36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'
Lord Jesus--You are the one who was heralded as the prince of peace, and yet here you are saying that a part of your mission is to create division. Division that requires a choice. I have friends that think that this is just not the way that God would work...require a choice...and exc
lude anyone.But that is the plain sense of what you are saying. Some will be lost because of wrong choices they have made. The demand for choice extends right down to the family level. The very fabric of society will be frayed by your intervention. There is choice and change that is required I can not avoid it, and in my best moments I embrace it without reserve.
In the middle of this training for the sending out of the twelve it is almost as if You skipped to the time when You would not be with them for good. You wanted them to know that division was some of what would happen and that it was normal in a world that is fractured and fallen.
Lord Jesus--In this day that will start soon, lead me in the ways of choice and change that are centered on you. Help me to see Your hand and Your direction in my path, let me hear Your steps beside me in my walk today.
"In my best moments I embrace it without reserve." Oh, to have that be true of me but I admit that often times my best moments I do more of an "acceptance" than an "embrace" and rarely without reserve. You are right, the way is narrow, the path is demanding, Christ calls on us, his followers, to make the sacrifice, pay the price, carry the cross. His grace is more than sufficient but his love demands our commitment.
ReplyDeleteAs you write I wonder how often my better moments are...
ReplyDeleteMore than anything I want to sense His continuing presence in the journey...that is the only thing that makes the path that is narrow, demanding and upward doable...