JESUS, THE GREAT
UNITER AND DIVIDER
PART 1
Imagine that a fisherman, a radical religionist, and IRS agent were put
into a room together. What do you think would happen? What could the possible
have in common? Would they simply ignore each other or would they find someway
to bond with each other? The likelihood of three men like this with totally
different backgrounds becoming friends would be rare, but Jesus has uniting
people like this every since He began His ministry on the earth.
It is amazing to me how Jesus has power to bring all kinds of people
together with different backgrounds that would never meet under normal
circumstances. Not only do they meet, they end up becoming friends and call
each other brother or sister.
When Jesus began His ministry on earth, He started finding men that
would eventually become apostles. Some of the first men He called to service
were fishermen.
Matthew 4:18 And
Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and
Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them,
"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of
men." 20 They
immediately left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there, He saw two
other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the
boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and
immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
These four men were partners in their fishing job according to Luke 5.
These men had lots in common with each other because of their trade and their
background. So, it should not surprise us that they were already united with
each other. Many people find common ground today with those that they work with
or go to school with. Again this is no surprise, but Jesus was not finished
yet.
One man that Jesus called
to service was a man Simon. We do not know a lot about him because the Bible
just says that he was a Canaanite (Mk. 3:18), which means zealous and he was called a zealot in Luke 6:15.
A zealot is defined as:
1. one burning with zeal
2. to defend and uphold a
thing, vehemently contending for a thing
It is
believed that Simon was a member of the Jewish political party known as the
Zealots. This was a fanatical group who opposed Roman rule over
These zealots were dedicated to serving God and upholding his law by any means necessary. They would fight to the death to uphold their beliefs. They thought it was a sin to pay tribute to the Romans. Some of them were assassins known as daggermen.
Though Simeon had this background, Jesus brought him into the mix and was able to unite him with the other apostles. More amazing that that was how Jesus was able to take this radical zealot and have him be at peace with another man that Jesus called to his service.
Matthew 9:9 As Jesus passed on from there, He
saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him,
"Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.
A tax collector was seen as a sinner and was
despised by the Jews. A tax collector was someone who collected taxes for
More impressive than this was the fact that He
could unit Simon the former zealot with a tax collector. I could only imagine
how hard it would have been for Simon to fight his urge from pulling out a
dagger and running Matthew thru, but we never read of such because of capable
Jesus is a bringing people who might normally hate each or kill each other
together.
Jesus did not stop with one tax collector. No, He
raised the bar even higher as we continue to read verse:
Matthew 9:10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at
the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners
came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His
disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and
sinners?" 12 When Jesus
heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a
physician, but those who are sick. 13
"But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not
sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but
sinners, to repentance."
Here we have Jesus eating with tax collectors and
other sinners. He is uniting them together as men and women who need salvation.
All you have to do is look around this room. There are many different people in
our congregation. Many of us would have never met or become friends if were not
for Jesus. He is our common bond and makes is possible for us to be united
together through Him.
Perhaps one of the greatest examples of Jesus
uniting men together that would never happen otherwise is found in:
Acts 9:1 Then Saul, still breathing threats
and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to
the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way,
whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Saul was very zealous man kind of like Simon the
Zealot, but there was major difference. Simon’s zeal was against the Romans,
but Saul’s was against everything that had to do with Christ. The idea of Saul
breathing threats and murder against the disciples is saying that is what he
lived. He lived and breathed to destroy Christianity. He desire was so great
that other Pharisees dreamed about being like him. He was a man that walked the
walk and talked the talk.
Imagine yourself being a Christian living in the
same town as Saul. Though you may not have feared dying for the cause of
Christ, you would have been very careful not to fall in the hands of the
radical man name Saul. However, notice what happens as we continue to read in:
Acts 9:3 As he
journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from
heaven. 4 Then he fell to the
ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting Me?"
5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord
said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to
kick against the goads." 6
So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You
want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into
the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 And the men who journeyed with him
stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground,
and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and
brought him into
Jesus goes to work on this radical man and humbles
him. While Saul waits to find out what he must do, we read:
Acts 9:10 Now there
was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a
vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." 11 So the Lord said to him,
"Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of
Judas for one called Saul of
This shows us how much Saul had done to
Christianity. His name had spread quickly among the Christians of who he was
and what he does. So, Ananias wants to make sure Jesus is sending him to the
right person. Next we read:
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, "Go,
for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name
before Gentiles, kings, and the children of
This was one those moments that you would have to
be there in order to believe it. Jesus was able to take this radical Pharisee
who was out to destroy Christianity and use Him for His ministry. Now, Saul was
out preaching the Jesus was the Son of God and had become united with the very
people he set out to destroy. You know it had to be hard for these Christians
at
This is amazing testament to how Jesus has the
power to bring people together no matter what their background because once we
change our lives to the way of God, we become brothers
and sisters in Christ.
While Jesus is great a bringing people together in
righteousness, He was also good at bringing sinners together as well. While
Jesus was working His miracles and proclaiming the message of the kingdom
coming, he got the attention of the opposing Pharisees and Scribes. These men
were afraid that the message Jesus was teaching would cause them to lose what
freedoms they had under Roman rule.
John 11:47 Then the chief priests and the
Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works
many signs. 48 "If we let Him alone like
this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both
our place and nation."
Because of their fear of the Romans and the
positions they had, they came together as united force to find a way to put
Jesus to death.
John 11:53 Then,
from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
Jesus even brought Herod and Pilate together who were not friends according to:
Luke 23:12 That very
day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had
been at enmity with each other.
Sinners have a tendency to be united together in
the same cause when it comes to protesting against the right way. In this
sense, Jesus even unites sinners together.
While Jesus was on the earth, His teachings were
directed to the Jews. Gentiles were excluded at the time, but not completely
ignored.
Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went out from there and
departed to the region of
While Gentiles were not His focus while He was on
earth, they were part of the plan after His death. Please keep in mind that
under the Law of Moses, the Jews were God’s chosen people, and they would avoid
Gentiles like they were diseased. They would not even go into a structure owned
by a Gentile. Yet, Jesus once again set a new standard for everyone under the
new covenant.
It wasn’t until several years after Jesus’ death
that this plan to make Gentiles part of God’s people was confirmed. We find
this happening in the Book of Acts. In Acts 10, a Gentile named Cornelius was
praying to God and his prayers were answered. He was going to get to hear about
Jesus and what he needed to do to be saved. Peter was going to be the
messenger, but Peter did not know it yet. God sent him a vision to prepare him
for what he was about to do.
Acts 10:9 The next
day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the
housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10
Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he
fell into a trance 11 and saw
heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners,
descending to him and let down to the earth.
12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth,
wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him,
"Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14
But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten
anything common or unclean."
15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time,
"What God has cleansed you must not call common." 16 This was done three times. And
the object was taken up into heaven again.
This was a vision to help him see that God did not
consider the Gentiles to be unclean and that he needed to go with the men that
came to his house to go see Cornelius. Peter obeyed the voice and went with the
men. However, I can imagine how awkward this was for him. When he arrives at
Cornelius’ house we read:
Acts 10:28 Then he said to them, "You
know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of
another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or
unclean. 29 "Therefore I
came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason
have you sent for me?" 30 ¶
So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at
the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in
bright clothing, 31
"and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are
remembered in the sight of God. 32 'Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose
surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the
sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.'
33 "So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well
to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things
commanded you by God." 34 ¶
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God
shows no partiality. 35
"But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted
by Him.
Once again, we see Jesus at work with His ability
to bring together both Jew and Gentile. Peter says it was unlawful, but things
have changed because of Jesus. To further confirm that Gentiles were part of
God’s plan, He poured out the Holy Spirit on Cornelius’ household and
immediately Peter says:
Acts 10:47 "Can anyone forbid water, that
these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be
baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Jesus broke down all the walls that separated Jew
from Gentile.
Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that you, once
Gentiles in the flesh -- who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the
Circumcision made in the flesh by hands --
12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens
from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have
been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and
has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His
flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in
ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus
making peace, 16 and that
He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby
putting to death the enmity. 17
And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were
near. 18 For through Him we
both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
All people can be God’s people. There no longer is
a division because once you are baptized into Christ,
you become a child of God. As Paul said:
Galatians 3:26 For you
are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor
free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ
Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's,
then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Not only has Jesus made it possible for us to
become united with all kinds of different people that we not normally know, He
also united us with God even though we were sinners and do not deserve unity
with Him.
Romans 5:6 For when
we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man
will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own
love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been
justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we
were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been
reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the
reconciliation.
Thanks to Jesus, we now have access to Father and have
the hope eternal life in heaven. Jesus has prayed the prayer that all disciples of Christ and future disciples of Christ will have
unity with God in John 17. This is why Jesus is the great uniter. Only He could
bring us all together from our various backgrounds and make us be united with
God. What a wonderful Savior we have. The question becomes will allow yourself
to become united with God and His followers or will continue to unite yourself
with the worldly people and continue in your rebellion? My hope is that you
will allow Jesus to unite you with God by obeying His plan of salvation and by
continuing to live for Him. If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and are willing to repent, and confess Jesus as Lord. Then why
not come forward and be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of yours sins
so you can become united with God and have the hope of heaven.
If you are already united with God, I hope that
you will continue to living for God and enjoy the wonderful benefits the Jesus
has given. Let us never forget that though the people in the room come from
different backgrounds with different ideas, we all have the common bond of
Christ and we are brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s us never stop loving
each other or helping each other remain faithful to the Lord.
JESUS, THE GREAT
UNITER AND DIVIDER
PART 2
This morning we talked about how Jesus was a great
uniter. He had the ability to bring people together that would normal be mortal
enemies and cause them to work together for a common goal. Even better than
that, Jesus has united us with our Father in heaven, which only Jesus could do.
Just as a Jesus was a great uniter, He was also a
great divider. Jesus said in:
Luke 12:51
"Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell
you, not at all, but rather division. 52
"For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and
two against three. 53
"Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against
daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
Anytime you bring truth into the world it will
also cause division with those who do want the truth. Boles
explains our verses this way:
Christ
is the Prince of Peace; but in a sinful world, a righteous king can have and
give peace only by destroying error and evil; to do this will bring wary; not
because Christ and his people have the spirit of strife and war, but because
the truth they urge is resisted, and made the occasion for strife, division, and
contention by others. The conflict that may be waged among the different
advocates of error will often unite them in their opposition to the truth. The
truth taught by Jesus is opposed to error; there can be no compromise between
truth and error. When one member of the household accepts the truth and other
reject it, there is opposition and antagonism (Boles 264).
I am sure all of us in this room have known
families that have been divided because of Jesus. Satan knows that we have
mentality that blood is thicker than water and he uses that to his advantage.
He knows if anyone can talk a person out of following Christ it is a family
member. Those that have grown up around you can make more miserable and guilty
than anyone else.
When you take the Lord’s side and refuse to give
into your family member whether it be a husband, wife or your children, there
will be division. There is a reason why Jesus said:
Matthew 7:14 "Because narrow is the
gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who
find it.
It is not easy to go against the ones you love and
around every day. It can be challenging to put God before them when you cannot
see God or talk to Him directly like you can your loved ones. When you have a
loved one that keeps hounding you every day to give up on Christianity it can
become very hard not to. However, notice what Jesus said in Matthews account:
Matthew 10:34 " Do
not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace
but a sword. 35 "For I
have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 "and 'a man's
enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 "He who loves father or
mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who
loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of
Me. 38 "And he who does
not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy
of Me. 39 "He who finds
his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My
sake will find it.
Division is almost always viewed in negative
light. No one wakes up and says, “today I am going to
divide my family”? While division hurts, it is not always wrong and it
necessary at times. Jesus is telling us that He must come first in our lives.
We cannot compromise God’s Word for the sake of the family. His way must always
come first and we must realize this the day we make the commitment to become a
Christian.
We have not been promised an easy path. You have
to be fully committed to God in order to allow His truth to take first place in
your life. Notice Jesus said that you are not worthy of Christ if you put your
family first. I want you to think about your family right now and how much you
love them and what you do for them. Now, ask yourself, do you love your family
more than you love God? Would you put your family’s needs above what God ask
you to do in Word? If so, Jesus says you are not worthy of Him. This is hard
saying, but when it is followed, you can see how it can bring division in a
family.
Not only does Jesus divide families, He divides
you from those who are not following after Him, which includes your friends,
neighbors and associates. However, this should not surprise you because Jesus said:
John 15:18 " If
the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 "If you
were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not
of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates
you. 20 "Remember the
word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they
persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they
kept My word, they will keep yours also.
The world in general does not like the idea of
having their lives regulated by God’s Word. They want to do what they want to
do. If you speak against pornography, they will stand opposed to you. If you
speak against abortion, they will fight against you. If you proclaim that
marriage is between a man and women, you will be hated and labeled as being
evil. Whatever sin you speak against as found in the Bible that the world says
is ok, division will occur because people of the world do not care for God’s
Word.
If you were not raised up in the church and you
lived like the world, the world loved you because you were like them. However,
if you realized that you were a sinner and you obeyed the gospel, those around
you will have a hard time understanding why as Peter said:
1 Peter 4:3
For we have spent enough of our past lifetime
in doing the will of the Gentiles -- when we walked in lewdness, lusts,
drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think
it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of
dissipation, speaking evil of you.
When we will no longer do these things we used to
do that the world says is acceptable those people will slowly but surely
separate themselves from you, because following after Jesus and living for Him
will do this.
Think about Saul. We talked about him this
morning. He had a great following of Pharisees that want to be just like him
when we was doing his best to destroy Christianity, but once he converted to
the truth and he began to use his zeal to spread Christianity, he lost his
followers and they turned on him.
Acts 9:23 Now after
many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24 But their plot became known to
Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by
night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
These Jews were on Saul’s side until he changed
sides, then they were ready to kill him and Jesus is what made this division
happen. Everywhere Paul went and preached the word it caused division and those
opposing Jews continued to try and put Paul to death.
For example notice:
Acts 14:1 Now
it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews,
and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks
believed. 2 But the unbelieving
Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the
brethren. 3 Therefore they
stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness
to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city
was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was
made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they
became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the
surrounding region.
Everywhere Paul went, his
life was in danger because of these opposing Jews. As you can see, when the
people would here the truth proclaimed some would accept and some would not,
which always caused division. Anytime the truth is proclaimed in a crowd of
people who are not Christians, there will always be division. Though Paul went
through much suffering to proclaim the gospel, he never regretted it.
Philippians 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil
workers, beware of the mutilation! 3
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ
Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have
confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the
flesh, I more so: 5
circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the
church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me,
these I have counted loss for Christ. 8
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and
count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which
is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and
the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain
to the resurrection from the dead. 12 ¶
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that
I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself
to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which
are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I
press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Though the message of Jesus and following after
Him may cause us to have suffer along the way we can
know that it is worth it because only Jesus can grant us eternity in heaven.
Though Jesus can cause much division between us and those around us, we must
continue to hold fast to His truth and have confidence in what He has promised
us for remain faithful to Him.
Not everyone can stand up to the challenge of
living for Christ and proclaim Him as our Savior even though they believe that
He is the Son of God. For example notice we find in:
John 12:42 Nevertheless even among the rulers
many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him,
lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the
praise of men more than the praise of God.
I think this is very sad. This makes about as much
sense as a person knowing that a certain pill will completely cure his disease,
but because of his fear of being kicked out of a club, he chooses to suffer and
die with his disease. Many have followed down this path. They believe the Jesus
is the Son of God, but they do not want to offend those around them. They are
afraid of the division that confessing Jesus as the Lord will bring, so they
hide it and never become a Christian.
There are also those who have become a Christian.
They confess Jesus as their Lord and even labored in His kingdom for a time. At
some point in their life, they let the world get to them and being divided from
the world was just too much for them. So, they found some excuse that satisfied
them to justify leaving the church, which is the same as leaving God. It does
not matter what the reason was. No matter how good it may sound, it was just an
excuse.
The writer of Hebrews talks about people like
this:
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for
those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have
become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good
word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since
they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open
shame.
Peter says:
2 Peter 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the
pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse
for them than the beginning. 21
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment
delivered to them. 22 But it
has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his
own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the
mire."
We all know Christians who have followed this path
and have rejoined the world. These are the people that divided themselves from
the world, but grafted themselves back in. How sad indeed.
Whenever we follow after Jesus it will also cause
division in our priorities from what they used to be. A great example of this
is found in:
Luke 10:38 Now it happened as they went that
He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him
into her house. 39 And she
had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with
much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?
Therefore tell her to help me." 41
And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and
troubled about many things. 42
"But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will
not be taken away from her."
There are many different ways to use this example,
but I want you to see Martha as how used to be before you became a Christian
because Martha has the wrong priorities in life. She is concerned about the
issues of life and making sure they are taken care of why she ignored what was
important in life, which was Jesus. If we are honest with ourselves, sometimes
that side of us comes out even though we have become Christians.
Mary represents what we are supposed to be like
once we become a Christian. We are to sit at the feet of the master and live
and breathe the words of life. When we make that transformation, we can see how
Jesus divides our priorities from the ways used to be. Our focus should not be
on God’s way and not our way or the world’s way. As Paul said:
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable
service. 2 And do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that
you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
We have to be careful and keep an eye out to make
sure the Martha in us does not come back out and that we allow the Mary in us
to remain so that we can keep our priorities straight.
The greatest division that Jesus brings about in
our lives is the division between righteousness and sin or we light and dark.
Thanks to Jesus, He has made it possible for us to be divided from our sin.
Without Jesus, sin would have power over us, but thanks be
to God that Jesus was allowed to die for us and redeem us from our sin.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
godly in the present age, 13
looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior
Jesus Christ, 14 who gave
Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for
Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
1 Peter 1:17 And if you call on the Father, who
without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves
throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were
not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your
aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
You and I have been
blessed beyond measure through Jesus and what He able to do for us. While most
division causes frustration and heartache, to be able to be opposed to sin and
for it to no longer have power over us is one most positive things
I can say about division.
I have pointed out many
different ways that Jesus is the great divider. While some of the division
following after Him will bring suffering and heartache, it is worth it because
only His way is always the right. Though we struggle with understanding why God
wants us to do certain things certain ways we must never fail to follow the
advice given to us in:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in
the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all
your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil. 8
It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your
bones.
We should be thankful
every day for Jesus being both a great uniter and a great divider. Let us never
stop following after His ways or trusting in Him.