Devotion 6.27.26

Matthew 10

Not Peace, but a Sword

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the 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.

Rewards

40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Christ, the savior, will cause division among those looking for a savior king (earthly), but he will bring eternal peace for those looking for salvation from God.

"Be careful if you get to meet your heroes." That's an adage I've heard recently. What if, let's say, we had an opportunity to meet someone like Thomas Jefferson?

What would the man we consider to be a genius (he was to be truthful) be like?

"Can you believe what an arrogant guy he was?" I asked as we walked away from Monticello. "All he did was fixate on stuff." In truth, the adage is applied to sports when I've heard it. Meeting our sports heroes can be saddenin. I've met a few but never had the opportunity to sit down and talk to one, so I have no experience in the realm of meeting a sports figure. 

At the beginning of the week, Hananiah says he seeks peace from the prophet ultimately sent to end the misery caused by the Babylonian occupation, to which Jeremiah said, "We shall see." Christ almost sounds like he's talking to that group in today's gospel by saying, "Don't look for the kind of peace you think I might bring because it's not going to happen by following me. Following me will cause division."

I've seen it with my own eyes. A good friend, who is Jewish, became a baptized follower of Christ. When he finally had the ability to share that with his mom and dad, their response was, "That's nice. Let's finish our meal now." That was it. Nothing else was ever said. He had his children baptized, but mom and dad did not come to the baptism, nor the celebratory dinner after.

Christ tells us this is the kind of reception he will cause. From a mild non-involvement, to argument and disbelief over faith, to not speaking for life - being a follower of Christ does anything but bring peace in an earthly sense. 

It does bring peace and joy internally though. Knowing Christ is to know peace regardless of situation. As our psalmist said earlier, in affliction he's drawn closer to God. As Paul noted in his letter to the Romans, sin points him to Christ. Salvation is there for the believer. God is there for us (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). 

Pray with me: Gracious and Eternal Father, Thank you for the faith you've given me and the joy of my salvation. Keep me strong with your Spirit and help me by daily giving me the bread I need to hear your Word, follow you, be sustained, and share that with others. In your Son's name I pray, Amen

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.