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Peace or Sword
Matthew 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send
peace, but a sword. [35] For I am come to set a man at variance against his
father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against
her mother in law. [36] And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
What needs to be understood is that the Peace
of God is different from the Peace of the World!
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The end result of the Holy Spirit's work in our
lives is deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined
as the absence of conflict,
This peace is confident assurance in any
circumstance; Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and numerous other forces are
at war within us. The peace of God moves into our hearts and lives to restrain
these hostile forces and offer comfort in place of conflict.
Jesus says he will give us that peace if we are
willing to accept it from him. With
Christ's peace, we have no need to fear the present or the future.
Matthew 10:34 says
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth:
I came not to send peace, but a sword. Notes for Verse 34
Jesus did not come to bring the kind of peace
that glosses over deep differences just for the sake of superficial harmony.
Conflict
and disagreement will arise between those who choose to follow Christ and those
who don't.
Literally the Lord was saying “Don’t think for one moment that living for me
is going to be easy or free of conflict…it will come at a cost…sometimes even
in your own family!
Christian commitment may separate friends and
loved ones.
In saying this, Jesus was not encouraging
disobedience to parents or conflict at home.
Rather, he was showing that his presence demands a decision.
Because some will follow Christ and some won't, conflict will inevitably arise.
As we take our cross and follow him, our different
values, morals, goals, and purposes will set us apart from others.
Don't
neglect your family, but remember that your commitment to
God is even more important than they are.
Matthew 10:37-38 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me:
and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. [38] And
he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
God should be your first priority.
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