Dear Explorer,
Read Luke 12:49-53
I believe that Jesus was expressing His eagerness to see the change from Laws to His NEW WAY, but He knew that that would require His death.
Why do you think He called the NEW WAY “fire”?
I believe that the Good News (that Jesus is the Messiah sent by God to save us from our sins and to fill our lives with Himself through the Holy Spirit) is a cleansing fire and it is very contagious and humanly uncontrollable!
Remember that we started this study with one man named Zechariah. We learned about him on Day 8. Then Jesus' followers grew to include about 100 people at the time of His death. But after Jesus' death, the Good News indeed spread like wildfire. Did you know that by 380 AD the NEW WAY (or Christianity as it was called then) became the sole and official religion of the entire Roman Empire? It had replaced all worship of Greek and Roman gods, all the other pagan gods, and Judaism. But that's getting ahead of our text.
I include that information to explain why Jesus called it a fire and why He was so eager to see it begin to spread.
Then Jesus begins to teach that following Him may split families apart! Why?
If you want to be obedient to everything God commands and your parents, or siblings or spouse does not – I don't think that will be a peaceful, harmonious situation.
Do you think the friends that you currently hang out with would be supportive of your decision to be 100% obedient?
I had friends who felt God was calling them to serve God as missionaries to Brazil. They packed up their two little boys and left the comforts of home to follow God's leading. But her parents were not pleased that they had “stolen” their grandkids. As their ship left the harbor, her parents refused to see them off. Many years later her parents became followers of Jesus, but it was not a peaceful time for their family for many years.
Read Luke 12:54-56
Jesus is begging the crowds to open their eyes to see the truth. Their Messiah is physically standing right there just as the Jewish Scripture (Old Testament) said He would. Yet, they are not spiritually tuned enough to recognize Him.
What is your view? Do you look at life with spiritual eyes? Or are you earth bound?
Read Luke 12:57-59
Jesus then seems to return to teaching mode. We've already covered this discussion of settling out of court if you are in the wrong (Day 77).
In His service, dale
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