Matthew 10:34-42 NIV
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to
bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her
mother,
a
daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the
members of his own household.’
37 “Anyone who loves their
father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son
or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up
their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life
will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes
me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet
as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous
person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a
cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell
you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Give up life to give up life
Jesus didn’t come
into this world to settle things among ourselves. Especially if you are
thinking of settling political scores between countries or people. He didn’t
come to this earth to make things “right” and defeat the power of the Roman
Empire over God’s people. That’s NOT peace. That’s more like revenge or getting
even with people we disagree with. And in this passage, Jesus makes it clear.
But the problem is, our ears want to hear what we want to hear, NOT, what God
in Jesus is telling us.
So that begs the
question, then, what is peace?
Jesus’ peace is NOT
an agreement between the battling or warring powers of this world. It’s way
more than that. Jesus’ peace is a peace that settles the ultimate score between
sin and death. Jesus’ peace is a peace that settles sin and forgives, and
brings new life. Life in the lives of believers in His Kingdom in eternity.
Jesus’ peace is way more than what our minds can comprehend.
Let’s take a look at
something, I’m sure many of you will recognize, and take comfort in, each week…
Numbers 6:24-26 NIV
24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
Now that’s peace.
Think about it. This is usually the last thing said during the worship, by the
Pastor, to the congregation, AS Words of God. Words spoken after the corporate
confession and forgiveness, at the beginning of worship; after the Pastor
delivers a Word from God, in sermon, after an affirmation of faith through a
Creed, after the Lord’s Prayer and the prayers of the church, yes, words spoken
even after the Holy Sacrament of Communion is received as a gift from God in
the body and blood of Jesus, in with and under the bread and the wine, is
received. Yet, words spoken before the sending of the worshippers back into the
world, from the worship service.
Yes, it’s, for sure,
when God has turned His face towards us and given His peace.
So, don’t get mixed
up, between peace between nations, or anything else that we desire for our own
well-being. This is not a selfish kind of peace, but a peace that passes all
understanding. This IS the peace Jesus speaks of, here in this passage of
Scripture…
Philippians 4:7 NIV
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This is the Peace of
God!
But since many
people want a different kind of peace from Jesus, a peace that solves their own
selfish personal needs; they don’t like or understand or even want to tolerate
the kind of peace Jesus came to this world to give. And that makes people mad!
Why doesn’t God do what obviously needs to be done in MY world, to bring ME
comfort, and to give ME joy, even at the cost of someone else?
And in this, there
is a division of people, and a division of understanding of what real peace
actually is.
So, as disciples,
and here, even apostles sent, we are called to stand up FOR and be obedient TO,
the peace that Jesus brings into this world of sin and evil. EVEN at the
turmoil of any conflict that may arise to this world’s common view of some
selfish peace making.
We, as disciples,
are called to be obedient and faithful to God’s WORD, not our desires.
Following, or even
pointing to Jesus may, and probably will, cause divisions with family and
friends. Like Jesus life, He was here to give up life to give up life. Think about that for a moment.
And we too are
called to give up life to give up life, in loving God and neighbor, forgiving
and serving, God and the “other.”
So, we’re faced with
a decision. With a message to give up life to give up life; will we be willing
to face into the storm of hatred for the message of peace? Real peace, NOT the
kind of peace that smooths all things out and compromises for the comfort of
our own selfish needs of power, wealth and control; but rather a peace willing
to give up life to give up life.
That’s the cross,
Jesus came to bear, and that we are called to bear. Give up life to give up
life.
Are you willing?
And in this “Give up
life to give up life” – we lose life to find life, or even to give life to a
hated neighbor. All as a gift of what God has done through the life, ministry,
suffering, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Yes! We are called to
“Give up life to give up life” for our neighbor as well. Even that guy we hate
or disagree with.
As we go into this
evil, sinful world, of people in the same kind of struggles as we ourselves
struggle; we are called with a message that is BEYOND ourselves. Yet, we must
still deliver the message.
What’s that? That we
are all in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves, but God came to this world
in the flesh and blood of Jesus to deliver us from sin and death, to forgive
our sins, and take upon Himself the SIN of this world and the people created,
and “Give up life to give up life.”
How’s that? God sent
Jesus to give up His life to give up life to us in love, compassion,
understanding, SO THAT, we may live with Him as believers and children in
communion, now and into eternity. So, when we receive Jesus, we receive life
with God forever. Notice the word Jesus uses, “receive.”
To receive, we
receive as a gift from God. It’s free. Take it! And respond in the obedience to
God’s command to love Him and your neighbor… IN this peace of Jesus.
You are sent into
this world as a messenger of God, to declare and to announce this wonderful
gift given for ALL people. ALL is ALL… even the enemies, even those with
various political standards and views, even with those of varying belief
systems or customs. It’s NOT your message. This IS the message of God.
People will choose
as they choose. People will believe as they believe. This is NOT up to you to
force anything on another person. That is God’s work, NOT yours. You are called
to be thankful, joyful, and obedient to the message that you too received and
believed.
As a disciple, and a
believer, your acts of kindness matter. You are called to live out these acts
and to serve even a cup of water to the one in need. Yes, even to the one you
may hate. Why? Because that’s why!
Pause and consider
the message that God gave to Jeremiah to speak, at a time of turmoil. Many
prophets coming before Jeremiah were telling of wars, disasters, plagues and
great kingdoms. Doom and gloom! That’s NOT what Jesus Peace is all about. All
of the wars, disasters, plagues and great kingdoms power and strength, come out
of mankind’s selfish desires for control and power. Yet, the real peace that
Jeremiah offers is backed up by a peace that comes from God, that separates our
sinful desires, to the love of God through Jesus peace which He, that is Jesus,
was coming to bring into this world. A new kind of peace of forgiveness,
service and love that is eternal and ever-lasting.
In our daily call to
give the Peace of God, we will face dangers, for sure, but God will protect us
and guide us and bring us, in the finality of it all, TO, eternal communion
WITH Him. How great is that?!
Lord, you have shown
me my sin, yet still forgive. I know, and can see, how I deserve the eternal
fire, and the damnation for my sin. Yet you came to forgive, to restore, to
renew, even me, in my sin, to bring me to a new life with you forever.
As I go into this
world, may I likewise proclaim, in word, and in action, this message You give
of forgiveness, and new life, to all those you send to me, and that you give to
me. May I bear the fruit of which you would have me bear; whatever that fruit
may be. You have made it clear, here and in other passages of Scripture,
through Your own very words…
John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are
the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much
fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
This past week I passed another one of
those decade marks in age. Whenever I turn over one of the tens digits, I seem
to take a break, pause and look back. It was no different this time as well.
However, as each tens digit changes, I know that more is behind me than is
before me. But, is that really true? If I measure time on the scale of a
typical life span of mankind today; sure, it’s true. But, if I measure time
another way, I’m just getting started into a timeless eternity.
So, it’s easy to judge myself in terms
of, have I been obedient to God’s call. Have I even heard God’s call? Have I
brought any kind of peace to this world in which God has placed me. Sometimes I
think no. Maybe, here and there, is a glimpse of God’s peace, but probably most
of the time, I exhibit the kind of peace that is selfish, that brings peace to
myself and not to my neighbor. That’s an honest confession for me.
So, did I, myself, “Give up life to
give up life?”
I can see the peace of Jesus and also
see how He gave up His life to give up life to all those He loves. And all
those He loves is ALL. But what have I done?
I attempt to be faithful and obedient,
in telling all of the forgiveness and salvation that Jesus offers for ALL. But
even in that, how many times have I backed away, in fear of judgment?
So, yea, I’m convicted and guilty of
sloth or even errors.
But I’m not so sure that my weakness
even matters in the eyes of Jesus. He knows I’m weak, as I know I’m weak. Jesus
knows my weaknesses probably more intimately than I do myself. YET…
Jesus has chosen me, even in my
weakness and sin, to GO! To GO with the message, He has for me to tell to all
those He gives to me day after day. My obedience does not depend on MY
goodness. My obedience rests fully in the goodness and grace that Jesus gives
to me and all of His disciples and apostles.
I am not made good, or righteous or
even just by my own goodness. NOPE!
2 Corinthians 5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin
for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
That’s NOT about me. That’s all about
what Jesus has done.
So, as I reflect back on that tens
digit change… I see another kind of change. A change that I celebrate.
Earlier in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 is
this…
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he
is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
So, I will continue to… “Give up my
life… to give up life… to all those God sends to me, each and every day. Yep…
even for today… tomorrow… and forever. All in the power and peace of Jesus as
He sends me into the fields of this world in which I live. For as many tens’
digits as He wishes me to have. And in all of this… Thanks be to God!
Enjoy this YouTube Music Video…
“Even In My Old Age”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeaDNylMvuo&list=RDIeaDNylMvuo&start_radio=1
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