Stand Firm

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living^©

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.
(Luke 12:49-53 (NIV))

Everyone thinks of the birth of Jesus as the beginning of peace on earth and good will towards men. In essence it is, but not until the Millennial kingdom is established upon the earth and Jesus returns to reign. Until then, there will be division even among families.

There will be great division caused by the mere mention of His name. Some people will be vehemently apposed to His lordship while others cling unrelenting to the promises of grace and mercy that He fulfills. It will become a very bitter battle that will literally divide.

Does this sound familiar?

Take a serious look at what is happening in the world today. At every level of society, Jesus is the root of much division simply because some people choose to be openly combative toward the teachings of Jesus and anything closely related to them. They choose to assume that all generations that have gone before them were uneducated and lived their lives blindly following “false” religion.

The division between the worldly and those who call upon the name of Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior is widening. The battle lines are drawn. We must be prepared to stand firm in our faith no matter whom we come up against. We must continue to pray for those who have not accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, but we must not allow ourselves to slip in our faith in order to avoid division.

Are you prepared to stand firm in your faith?

Copyright 1998 – 2009 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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