Jeremiah 28:5-9; Romans 7:1-13; Matthew 10:34-42

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Faith is divisive. Plain and simple. There’s nothing in this world that people argue about more than faith or belief in God because faith is important. But the question that is often asked, is where in the list of priorities does it fall? Is it high on the list or near the bottom? Is it hovering in the middle or is it non-existent? 

The reality with faith is that there’s not to be any middle ground. We’re either all in or all out. This is why Jesus claims our absolute allegiance. There can’t be anything that we place higher on the list than him, not even our family or loved ones. As Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,” Matthew 10:34-35. If a family member were to give you an ultimatum between them and God, we must choose God every time.

It's a sad reality that many of our families are divided in such a sense, that is, some believe, and some do not. It’s a temptation to compromise faith for the sake of family. Not showing up to church whenever said family is visiting or avoiding the “uncomfortable” topic of faith when they’re around. But peace in this world is a fickle thing. The more we seek peace, the less peace we will actually have. “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it,” Matthew 10:39. If our priorities aren’t straight, we lose not just the lesser things but everything!

This isn’t to say that family is unimportant or that we should disavow those who don’t believe. Rather, the way we interact with them and love them unconditionally is to flow from the very love of God for us. We can love our “enemies”, especially our own flesh and blood because Jesus has loved us unconditionally. We’re to witness to them and love them, though never to follow in their unbelief just for the sake of the relationship. And that remains difficult… always!

Here is our comfort though. With faith, God has given us a new reality. He’s radically redefined family for us. For family isn’t just your flesh and blood. The church of faith is now our family! Our brothers and sisters in Christ are here to care for and love you just as a brother or sister, mother or father, son or daughter. In this relationship, we’re bound together in Christ. By Christ’s blood, we have been washed clean and forgiven of all our sins. On the cross, Christ lost his life that he may find eternal life for you! So it is for us. When we “lose” our lives in Christ, we find true life in God! Whoever receives Jesus by faith, receives the greatest reward, everlasting peace!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Almighty God, by the working of Your Holy Spirit, grant that we may gladly hear Your Word proclaimed among us and follow its directing; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!