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49 "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." 54 He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, "It is going to rain'; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, "There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? (Luke 12: 49-56 NRSV)
A happy and glorious Monday to you dear Friend and yours! I thank you all for your kind understanding of my vacation time with Nellie and all of our family. Everyone was there except our second oldest daughter, as she had work commitments, but we had all the little ones and we had a great time. We are relaxed and renewed! We thank you for your prayers and well wishes for us. We could feel all the prayers.
I've shared in previous devotionals about how in my applying for certain jobs in Houston during my high school years required my taking a lie detector test. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life, but it did demonstrate to me that this employer took seriously our commitment to the company and what was expected of us. These took place in dark, smoky rooms right out of central casting for a private detective tv show. The man smoked the entire time and the machine looked ancient. I expected a bright lamp pointed at my eyes and a rubber hose nearby to coerce more answers out of me. A lot of seriousness for a job that paid, in those days, $1.25 an hour. Thank God I got all those jobs.
Jesus does not require us to take a lie detector test, because He knows everything. He also is loving and forgiving of all our transgressions. But we should not lose sight of the seriousness with which Jesus is taking those who do not surrender to Him and/or who work for His enemy. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is very serious about our eternal life and the eternal life of the world. The words of this passage shows us just how serious He is and what He has set in motion for us and for those who have yet to make their surrender to Him. The fire of the Holy Spirit came down as He promised at Pentecost. That marked the birthday of the Church and the world has not been the same since. The disciples in Jerusalem were baptized with fire and they began the work that took the Gospel worldwide. The gospel does not necessarily bring peace to every household that embraces it. The truth is that some households do divide; those who love and serve Jesus, and those who want nothing to do with Him. There was a young man who met the Lord while active in our campus ministry group. From that time on his joy was to learn all about the Lord that he could by attending our Bible studies and all the events we offered. The sad part bwasv that he had to lie to his mother to get permission to come to our evening Bible studies and activities. She preferred he go to dances and parties rather than religious activities.
We should ask what the signs of today say about Jesus and how we are responding or ignoring them? If we see them as calls to action, then we need to take action. If we're tired of hearing about hatred, become more of a person of love. If we're tired of hearing that churches are dying and closing, go to church and invite people to join you. If you're tired of hearing of self-serving acts in society, help others.
PRAYER: Loving Father, we see the signs and we hear Your voice. Grant us courage to take action and become the people You have called us to be. This we pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Respond with faith and love to God's direction in your life.
Blessings of love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
