Are You Expecting Peace?

What is your family experience?

Jesus came to redeem every soul, but every soul doesn't want to be redeemed by Him. When this happens in the family, it can create separation and even a chasm between people. Parent-parent. Parent-child.

We might think it shouldn't be this way but Jesus says, on the contrary, it has to be this way. Surprisingly, Jesus said He didn't come to bring peace.

Redemption is not meek. It isn't gentle. It isn’t safe. It doesn’t sparkle with pretty glitter. It glitters with mine dust and grit.

We like to speak of the peace of Jesus. Of course, we thank Him for it. He is the Prince of peace in righteousness.

Do we expect peace in our family where there is currently division? What is creating that division?

Because of His righteousness, Jesus Christ's coming brings division even amongst families because people are not naturally inclined to follow after His righteousness. We are naturally inclined to follow our own base natures and the bible teaches us, that leads to destruction.

Matthew 7:13 (CEV)

Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate.

Jesus teaches us to do all that we can to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18). But it's not always possible to live in peace with everyone. When we are dedicated to God’s laws, principles and precepts we can be at peace with the way we live but this can bring strong opposition from others. While we don't choose to cause offence, opposition to the way we choose to live and the standards we seek can cause friction and battles, even in the family where God intends that peace, safety, and well-being are harboured.

God intends the family to live in unity and for the man to be the head of the family as Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 5:23). But what happens when he does not take up that standard? What happens when he doesn’t follow Jesus’ command to love his wife as Christ loved the church and selflessly gave His life for her (Ephesians 5:25)? What happens when he abandons his wife or his children? The bible says that believers, especially, should be following their faith in Christ by caring for their relatives, especially those within their own household (1 Timothy 5:8). Unbelievers may be less inclined to follow the family for the sake of Christ and instead follow their own inclinations. It's not easy. It's heart breaking. The bible teaches us to not merely look after our own interests, but also the interests of others (Philippians 2:4).

When people are opposed to the things of God, His peace cannot be maintained.

Romans 8:6-8 (GNT)

To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace. And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature; for they do not obey God's law, and in fact they cannot obey it. Those who obey their human nature cannot please God.

Now we see what Jesus was talking about when He said He didn’t come to bring peace, but division. Righteousness will cause the unrighteous to stumble through rejection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2). It's not an easy message to accept unless we follow the 'why' to the cross.

Luke 12:49-53 (NLT)

“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible

baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth?

No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favour of me, and two against—or two in favour and three against. ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ [Micah 7:6]”

Micah 7:5-7 (NLT)

Don’t trust anyone—not your best friend or even your wife! For the son despises his father. The daughter defies her mother. The daughter-in-law defies her mother-in-law. Your enemies are right in your own household! As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.

Some of us inhabit relationships and families that have become divided because of Jesus Christ. He is the stumbling block between us and it can’t be any other way unless repentance becomes the way of peace for those who oppose Him.

1 Peter 2:4-5 (NIV)

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

We shouldn’t be surprised or blame God when our families become divided because of Jesus Christ. This is the believer’s spiritual sacrifice; that nothing else, not even family, is more important than Him and His saving grace.

Romans 3:23-24 (GNT)

...everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. BUT by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free.