Weekday Devotionals
Devotional Written by Pastor Aaron Green
“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” (Matthew 10:34-36).
Jesus is a complicated figure.
Don't get me wrong, I love Jesus. This week I asked our One Year Bible discussion group to answer the question, 'who is Jesus'? I even asked them to expound on their answer; as in, one may say, 'Jesus is Lord'.... but what does that mean? What does it mean that Jesus is Lord? HOW is Jesus Lord to you? The question of who is Jesus is a surprisingly complicated one even for me. My own answer would be something a bit stereotypical like, Jesus is Lord of my life, savior of the world, and King of the universe... but again, HOW is Jesus each of those things? Jesus is complicated. On the one hand the majority of people see Jesus as this gentle peace-loving teacher of good things, but then, what do you do with the verse stated above? It seems neither gentle, peaceful, or loving, and yet it's Jesus still.
Jesus is a complicated figure.
At minimum, Jesus is just being honest here. He's making it abundantly clear that following Him is going to cause some issues. In fact, there's a monthly publication called, The Voice of the Martyrs that highlights stories all over the globe about the familial cost of following Jesus in countries where Jesus is nothing but a complicated figure, and not welcome. It's stories of parents turning in their children and children turning in their parents to the authorities for their newfound faith in Jesus. I recall one youth pastor in our own country telling a story about a young girl who attended youth group, decided she was going to follow Jesus and become a Christian, and then showed up at the youth pastor's house with a backpack because she said her parents had disowned her. What is Jesus' response to that girl?... I think it would be, 'well-done my good and faithful servant. I told you it might be this way.' I think of Psalm 23... "You set up a table in the presence of my enemies"... could that be the dinner table of own households? That may not be the case for anyone reading this devotional, but it is certainly the case for many who have chosen to follow Jesus despite the cost. The Prince of Peace has indeed brought a sword, but that sword may also produce a peace beyond all understanding.
Who is this man that can uproot entire lives and yet still produce hope, peace, love, and joy amidst chaos? Why it can only be the Lord God almighty. And God, well, He's complicated, and as we read this week in the story of Jacob, He's inviting us into a wrestling match.
Are you the God who brings peace or a sword?... Yes, comes the response.
Care to walk with me, comes the follow-up.
So I ask, who do you say Jesus is?
- Pastor Aaron
“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” (Matthew 10:34-36).
Jesus is a complicated figure.
Don't get me wrong, I love Jesus. This week I asked our One Year Bible discussion group to answer the question, 'who is Jesus'? I even asked them to expound on their answer; as in, one may say, 'Jesus is Lord'.... but what does that mean? What does it mean that Jesus is Lord? HOW is Jesus Lord to you? The question of who is Jesus is a surprisingly complicated one even for me. My own answer would be something a bit stereotypical like, Jesus is Lord of my life, savior of the world, and King of the universe... but again, HOW is Jesus each of those things? Jesus is complicated. On the one hand the majority of people see Jesus as this gentle peace-loving teacher of good things, but then, what do you do with the verse stated above? It seems neither gentle, peaceful, or loving, and yet it's Jesus still.
Jesus is a complicated figure.
At minimum, Jesus is just being honest here. He's making it abundantly clear that following Him is going to cause some issues. In fact, there's a monthly publication called, The Voice of the Martyrs that highlights stories all over the globe about the familial cost of following Jesus in countries where Jesus is nothing but a complicated figure, and not welcome. It's stories of parents turning in their children and children turning in their parents to the authorities for their newfound faith in Jesus. I recall one youth pastor in our own country telling a story about a young girl who attended youth group, decided she was going to follow Jesus and become a Christian, and then showed up at the youth pastor's house with a backpack because she said her parents had disowned her. What is Jesus' response to that girl?... I think it would be, 'well-done my good and faithful servant. I told you it might be this way.' I think of Psalm 23... "You set up a table in the presence of my enemies"... could that be the dinner table of own households? That may not be the case for anyone reading this devotional, but it is certainly the case for many who have chosen to follow Jesus despite the cost. The Prince of Peace has indeed brought a sword, but that sword may also produce a peace beyond all understanding.
Who is this man that can uproot entire lives and yet still produce hope, peace, love, and joy amidst chaos? Why it can only be the Lord God almighty. And God, well, He's complicated, and as we read this week in the story of Jacob, He's inviting us into a wrestling match.
Are you the God who brings peace or a sword?... Yes, comes the response.
Care to walk with me, comes the follow-up.
So I ask, who do you say Jesus is?
- Pastor Aaron
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