Dividing and conquering

Read > Luke 12:49-59

Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! (v. 51).

A couple of common expressions from my part of the world are, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and “One man’s drink is another man’s poison.” The point of the quips is simple to see – some things in life are a matter of perspective. How we view them will determine whether we think they’re valuable or unimportant, enriching or dangerous.

This, I think, captures the challenge of Luke 12 – an admittedly difficult text. Here, however, we leave the practical wisdom of clever sayings, for there’s more at stake than simply missing out on something of relative worth. Jesus speaks directly about the conflict that His return will generate, describing it as a “fire” brought to the earth (v. 49). The impact of this fire is seen in the fact that Christ is the great and eternal lightning rod that separates and divides. Because He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), all of humanity will fall on one side of that division or the other – depending on how they respond to His offer of eternal life. To many, the offer of salvation is seen as just so much rubbish to be cast aside. For others, however, this offer of forgiveness and life is embraced as the greatest treasure of all.

He challenges the crowd to use the same discernment by which they predict the weather to see and properly measure the worth of what He has come to accomplish (vv. 54-56). And this is a choice that divides. Those who reject Jesus’ provision will face eternal judgment (vv. 58-59). Only if we accept His forgiveness will we know true treasure, for Paul wrote, “He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins” (Ephesians 1:7). Christ is the great divide – will you embrace Him as the greatest of all treasures, or cast Him aside? – Bill Crowder

More >

·         Matthew 10:34-40

·         John 5:23-24

·         2 Corinthians 2:15-16

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How have you experienced the great divide of Christ? What will you give up to follow Him?