Jeremiah 23:16-29; Hebrews 11:17-12:3; Luke 12:49-56

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

To have a family worship together is a blessing beyond all others. Father, mother, sons and daughters together in the pew hearing the blessed words of Jesus Christ. If you have been blessed to have such a family, rejoice! When faith permeates all members and all actions of the family, there is nothing greater. However, we know this is rarely the case. Personal experience often shows us the exact opposite. A mother and son arrive to church, yet no father. A father and daughter, but no mother. Parents, but no children. A brother but no sister… and so on. It is a sad but true reality that our own families are rarely united on something as important as faith.

What we would give for just a little peace from the strife and anxiety caused by a divided family! Yet, this is how we come to understand our Gospel reading firsthand. Faith is divisive. It alters even the most fundamental relationships we have, that is, those of family: father, mother, brother and sister, son or daughter. Just as Jesus tells us, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division, For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three,” Luke 12:51-52. For one reason or another, it’s not uncommon for the Word of God to take root in one member and not another. 

So, what are we to do? We certainly don’t wish to have divided families, yet when they occur, we often feel powerless. We don’t want to lose our family members, but we must remain faithful above all else. For that’s the major lesson today. Nothing should drag you away from faith in Jesus, not even a family member. As difficult as it can be, our number one priority as a Christian is faithfulness to God. Should a family member be tempting you to sin or worse, be dragging you away from faith, it is better to be divided from them than to suffer an eternity in hell. Now, that doesn’t mean abandoning them altogether. Rather, our call is to witness to them as to any unbeliever. Pray for them that the Word of God may take root in their life and so find peace and unity again in Christ!

For this purpose, Jesus came. “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!” Luke 12:49. The fire of God’s Word has been cast upon the earth that it may kindle faith in all people! Just as John the Baptist states, Jesus has come to baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire,” Luke 3:16. Jesus casts this fire that it may divide you from your sin! Division is the process of making holy. A holy people are those who have been divided from the stain of sin and chains of this world. We do not want peace with the world, but peace with God! For Jesus came to be baptized with the fire of God’s wrath on the cross. Jesus died for all your sins that the fire of his Word may be kindled in you and purify you. Thus, may God divide us from sin and all that seeks to drag us away from faith, even as we pray for the kindling of faith in our family! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Merciful Lord, cleanse and defend Your Church by the sacrifice of Christ. United with Him in Holy Baptism, give us grace to receive with thanksgiving the fruits of His redeeming work and daily follow in His way; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!