Scripture Reading: Luke 12.49-53 Today's inspiration: Choose

Good Morning.

America abounds with prosperity teaching in the church--ministers who teach that you can just 'name it and claim it', because that's the goodness of God. . . teaching that moves from growing your self-esteem to being self-actualized, and omits the less savory elements of Scripture. Today, we have an unsavory morsel to consider--Jesus' teaching that for those who choose to follow Him, they will know division, even within their own family! Shocking, isn't it? Jesus, Prince of Peace, teaching about how father will be divided against son, mother against daughter, and so on. . .? Wait just a second here--what would today's enlightened ministers say about that? Doesn't Jesus want us to love one another, practice unity in the bond of peace? Hmmm. . . tis a difficult matter before us today.

Here's the truth--not everyone is interested in knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord; not everyone is interested in knowing His will or surrendering to it; not everyone is interested in figuring out 'what Jesus would do, and then doing it'. For those who are interested in all of those things, division will be a consequence. Relentless, tireless commitment to anything is costly, but relationship with Jesus Christ is worth it. For some, the stakes are exceedingly high, like when the child of a Jewish family comes to accept Jesus as his Messiah. How do you break it to the folks? The cost is great to the Muslim wife who finds Jesus Christ, leaving Mohammed in the rearview mirror. In some parts of the world, people are prohibited from reading or owning Scripture, and are severely punished if they are caught. Yet, new converts risk punishment and death--so hungry are they to read God's Word, touch it, meet with other believers! Not so much here in the States, huh? And yet, there are those who realize that we make choices daily to live by the law of the land--cultural influences and all, OR live by the law of the Lord. I love Joshua's decision on the matter-- "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24.15

I have known women who have declined making a personal decision to follow Jesus because it would put them in a different camp than their husband. While I can understand it, my heart breaks over it just the same. Sure, you will catch grief for your 'holy ways', religious music, reading your Bible', stuff like that--believe me, I've heard it all! But I bear in mind that, as the angelic host proclaimed to the shepherds on the Judean hillside, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is "good news which is for all of the people." Even those who will know division as a result. It was our Lord who said 'if you are ashamed of Me, I will be ashamed of you before the Father' and conversely, 'He who professes me before men, I will profess before the Father.'

Today, I had an impromptu conversation with a new friend, mother of a schoolmate of my son's. . . she was asking me about my church participation. I commented that my husband had recently started going to church with the boys and me, after staying away for 10 years. She said, 'oh yeah, my husband would never go.' I asked her if she prays for him; she said she didn't--in reality, it seems they are just coexisting, and it appears that she is trying to stay emotionally detached so as not to incur any more hurt. "But... do you pray for him? It is the only thing that will change his heart. . . don't you get that?" One of my favorite authors, Lee Strobel, authored a book called Surviving the Spiritual Mismatch; I highly recommend it. Strobel talks about how he felt when his wife became a Christian--how he felt betrayed, like there was another man in his house, and the like. . . while Leslie shares what it was like from her perspective--how she prayed for Lee, didn't preach at him, or grow resentful. Well written, inspirational, and so very valuable. For me personally, it is the cry of my heart, my persistent widow's prayer (from the gospel) that I will one day stand side-by-side with my four children and husband in worship of God. Nothing matters more to me than that.

Are you the head of your house? ('not trying to cause a fight by asking), but if you are, choose this day that you will seek God. Point your children to the God who loves them, encourage your wife to get to know her Creator--(after all, He 'gets' her, and you probably never will!) Are you a single mother? The choice is all yours then. . . Law of the land or Law of the Lord?--choose this day whom you will serve.

So that you may know,

Christine