Goooooood Morning Gorgeous!
It’s a brand new day. A fresh NEW start.
The sun is rising and chasing away all darkness.
Luke 12 is a good chapter to read to see that Jesus preached a STRONG message of “You are with me or you’re not.”
He starts out reminding us how valuable and precious we are to Him. How He knows us so well that our hairs are even numbered. How He will provide for our every need. And, how we are not to worry about what people may do to us for believing in Christ for He will care for us in our hour of trial. He will even give us the Words to day. He goes on to remind us how temporary this life is and how eternal our life with Him will be!
Luke 12:7 NLT
[7] And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
He begins to teach the type of loyalty we must have for Him. A loyalty that spreads beyond private faith, but becomes a public declaration!!!
Based on these verses, there’s no such thing as a private faith in Jesus.
When people say their faith is private and they don’t feel comfortable talking about it. That its between them and God. That’s not biblical and its the opposite of what Jesus teaches. You cannot be a private follower of Christ.
His Words! Not mine.
Luke 12:8-9 NLT
[8] “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. [9] But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.
What about peace?
He came to leave us with a gift of peace in our minds and in our spirit, a peace that only HE can give.
But don’t mistake His gift of peace to the individual as peace between the believer and unbeliever.
Does He want you to be loving, kind, and respectful? I would say based on His Character and how He treated people, YES!
But does He want you to be silent about your faith in the name of “keeping the peace”? NO
That’s a misconception based on what we think about Jesus versus what He really preached!
We already saw in two previous chapters that Jesus taught that you are either with Him or Against Him.
There is no middle ground in Christ. We cannot be half in the world striving to please people and half in the Word secretly serving Christ.
Here is what Jesus said. Red letter Words.
Luke 12:49 NLT
[49] “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!
[51] Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! [52] From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. [53] ‘Father will be divided 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.’ ”
What does all of this mean?
Following Jesus is radical. It’s life changing, life altering in the most beautiful ways.
Following Jesus will change everything.
Following Jesus will bring you into conflict with others, but you can handle it with love and boldness.
Following Jesus means leaving the world’s offerings for what Jesus offers.
His ways are completely counter culture. And they are filled with LOVE, sacrificial giving, honor, respect, and kindness BUT not SILENCE!
We must be always ready with a testimony of His goodness.
Always ready to share our source of JOY.
Always ready to stand up for Jesus and His Word that says He is THE ONLY way. No one gets to the Father except through Him. That’s what He meant by there would be division among households. There is only ONE way and when you declare that, there are people who receive it with JOY and gladness! There are people who falsly say they can get to the Father through nature, other teachers, good works, and diminish the power of the BLOOD of Jesus Christ.
The blood is the dividing line. Those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior get cleansed and marked by the blood of the Lamb just like those whose door posts were marked by the blood of the lamb on Passover Night. The homes without the blood were not protected. The blood separated those who would live and those who would experience death in their home.
And Jesus came and made it so simple. Receive Him and receive LIFE!
Because He died on the cross for us and His blood was shed, He became the sacrifice that marked us. Jesus was crucified on Passover. He became the fulfillment of the Old Testament Passover lamb.
There was no other way to be saved at the first Passover and there is no other way to be saved today.
Would you come to Him today and recieve Him as Lord and Savior?
Would you accept this beautiful free gift of salvation?
And if you are already a follower of Jesus Christ, who are you proclaiming the gospel to this Christmas Season?
Blessings!
Vanessa Lynn
