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Yet Another Troubling Statement By Jesus Feb 03 2010
"For I came to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's enemies will be the members of his own household." - Matthew 10:35
Today's verse is probably very troubling to read. Christ says, "Look, when I come, you're going to see a son set against his father, a daughter become an enemy of her mother, even a daughter-in-law set against her mother-in-law." (It's hard to believe that last one is even possible, isn't it?)
Now is Jesus advocating that someone who becomes a Christian become a troublemaker in the home? No, of course not. What Jesus is telling us is when a person comes to Christ within a family of unbelievers, the unbelievers are probably going to be unhappy - even angry - about that decision. Now if you come to Christ in a family where everyone else is a committed Christian, they're going to be rejoicing; there will actually be greater unity in your family than there's ever been before. But when a person becomes a Christian in a family that is not in Christ, then very often those family members will be angry and reject the new Christian member. Why? Because they feel the new Christian is claiming to have the truth and declaring that everyone else in the family is wrong. So, there will be natural divisions in the family, often including anger and rejection toward the Christian member. But if you are the one in this situation, Jesus wants you to realize that it is not you being rejected, it is Christ Himself. Know that Jesus will help carry the hurt you feel from this misdirected rejection.
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4 Comments
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Yes, report it NevermindNothing should matter to you as much as God. You must love God more than anything or anyone.
And there will always be families in which some do love God and some don't and as such, we will be set against each other.
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Yes, report it NevermindI always thought that this was in the context of the time of Jesus' life. He came into the Jewish world and turned it upside down. I am sure that many, if not most, of those that followed him were "set against" the rest of their family and friends.
Of course, the explanation given in today's devotion is also true, but I'm not sure it is the most important meaning.
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Yes, report it NevermindWow, this scripture sure brings back memories. I was 14 yrs old and my friend brought me to her church. I fell in love with Jesus and gave my life to Him. I immediately felt free and changed. I love my family, so I wanted to share this with them. Unfortunately, I was met with defensiveness, anger, judgement, and rejection. I was living in a home with alcoholism, drug addiction, and someone who dabbled in the occult. The next three years were really tough. But like the author of this devotion says, Jesus was there to help me through it and take some of the burden.
Finally, when I was 17 my prayers were answered when my parents came to Jesus though! And now, almost twenty years later since I first went to church and prayed for my family, my sister ministers to me and is no longer into the occult!
God is good! I love these devotions. Thanks for letting me share!
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Yes, report it NevermindThank you for sharing.