49“I came to cast fire upon the earth. How I wish that it was already ablaze! 50 I have a baptism I must experience. How I am distressed until it’s completed! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, I have come instead to bring division. 52 From now on, a household of five will be divided—three against two and two against three. 53 Father will square off against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud forming in the west, you immediately say, ‘It’s going to rain.’ And indeed it does. 55 And when a south wind blows, you say, ‘A heat wave is coming.’ And it does. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret conditions on earth and in the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret the present time? 57 And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
Reflection
In my June 17th Devotional, Psalm 126, I described the scripture as a metaphor for the description of American culture today. We, as the body of Christ, need to be the salt and light that Jesus created us to be in our own lives and surrounding world.
This past Sunday, June 21st, Pastor Joe’s message came from Matthew 10:24-39, a piece of scripture that really requires us to be able to open our minds and see beyond our first impression. Matthew 10:24-39 talks about transformation, it aims at renewing our hearts and lives which is change. The purpose of the Gospel is to force, or motivate, choice. If we hear and believe the Gospel we will be changed, what we call fruit of the spirit. If those around us do not hear, or accept change, there is now a difference which Jesus calls division.
The New Interpreters Study Bible “NISB” says this about Matthew Chapter 10. This chapter, often called the mission discourse, and one of five major blocks of Jesus’ teaching, expands on the disciples’ task of fishing for people. Their mission assumes that the Roman imperial world is not as God wants it. They challenge the status quo and enact God’s alternative, just and merciful empire. Mission is not optional, but the very reason that disciples and the church exist.
The NISB title for Luke 12:49-54 is “Jesus the Cause of Division”, and the explanatory text says Jesus accentuates his teaching on possessions and faithful service by spelling out further his understanding of the times. The presence of God’s saving dominion in Jesus’ own person and ministry make an epochal shift, with persons confronted with the need to embrace the new age or cling to the old. The resulting division was predicted by John the Baptist in Matthew 3:17.
The Matthew and Luke scriptures are talking about transformation, it aims at renewing our hearts and lives which is change for the better. If we hear and believe the Gospel we will be changed, what we call fruit of the spirit. If those around us continue, without desiring Christ’s values, plainly there are going to be differences in behavior and values.
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
I hope that it is clear that the Spirit of God desires that we be Christ-like, more than we are by ourselves, and through the power of Christ are actively the feet and the voices who demand honesty, caring, and compassion from those we have chosen to lead us and when they have failed, hold them accountable for the good of all.
Is there a person or entity that is doing good work that you have been thinking of supporting because they help others?
Is there one thing that you see happening in your community, state or country that you feel is not in keeping with loving God with heart, soul and mind, and loving others? Does it bother you deeply?
What can you do to make change? What will your mission be?
Prayer: Lord, teach us humility over pride, mercy over judgement, service over self-interest. Shape our hearts after yours. Give us courage and strength to love as You loved – without conditions, without limits, reaching toward those in need and hurting. Help us to live, work and love as the fruit of life transformed by grace. Amen.
