Today's Passage - Luke 12:49-53

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 12:49-53   "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."   First of all, we must understand the meaning of 'baptism" in this scripture passage. The baptism of the Lord was mentioned back in Luke chapter 3, therefore this baptism does not refer to the actual water baptism, but rather the suffering that Jesus was going to persevere. Jesus knew that the ultimate goal for His coming to the world was to accomplish salvation for the human race. He knew that suffering was necessary, because He needed to take on all the punishment from God against the sin committed by people, so that we can be spared from the end-time judgment. This is the will of Father God, and also His mission; therefore, before His mission was accomplished, He was very anxious.   Second, why did Jesus say that He was on earth to bring on division? Isn't He the prince of peace and He wants us to coexist peacefully? Why would He cause conflicts, especially between family members? Jesus actually offered an explanation in Matthew 10:34: "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." In the Jewish custom, whenever there are things that couldn't be resolved through arguing, a sword will be laid on the ground. Those who agree and disagree will stand on either side of the sword. The "division" here is not a fight, but rather it's a declaration of position. When one accepts the Lord, he needs to declare his position in the faith, and it cannot be compromised. The Lord said that "whoever doesn't acknowledge me before men, I will not acknowledge them before the Father; whoever acknowledges me before men, I will acknowledge them before the Father." Faith needs to be declared publicly; even though it might cause misunderstanding from the family, but we ask the Lord to give us love and wisdom to proclaim our faith, and march forward with assurance in our heart, believing that God will resolve all the misunderstanding for us.   I have many friends whose family didn't agree with them after they accepted the Lord, and thus they were kicked out of home. Thank God because as they continued to testify for the Lord with love and faith, and continued to love their families, the family members have now also accepted the Lord. Perhaps you are encountering similar kind of persecution because of faith from your family members; do not be discouraged, also look upon and depend on God, until He will personally make way for you.   Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because you make way for us in the desert and make stream for us in the wasteland. Please help the brothers and sisters who are currently persecuted by their families because of their belief to have strong faith. You died for us on the cross, and the cross has torn down all the walls, so I ask that you would accomplish your work on these brothers and sisters right now. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!