Luke 12:51-53 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, 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 daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
 
DO Jesus’ words here contradict his birth announcement? Luke 2:13-14 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” In truth, Jesus’ words do affirm the angels’ message.
    Note the heavenly host says, “peace to men on whom his favor rests.” God’s favor is required for mankind to be at peace. What is God’s favor? In a broad view, God’s favor is the outward demonstration of blessing over his people. In more particular forms, God’s favor is the ways he shows his particular traits – love, grace, joy, forgiveness, law, righteousness – to mankind. His favor is grace to save people from sin into his eternal presence with his people.
    You can say that Jesus is God’s favor in the flesh. He came to be the way and the truth to eternal life, so mankind would know the way to eternal blessing. Thus, the entire Bible – the complete counsel of God – is about the many ways God demonstrates his favor to us.
    But what happens when we talk to people of God and the Bible? Division quickly arises! We know that mankind – God’s own family – outright rejects his teachings. Then we subtly ignore his compassion, love, forgiveness, commands and mercy. We are insulted and rebellious when God’s favor corrects our sins and warns us of judgment. Division digs deeper into our souls when we tell God, “There are no absolutes. I can live in my own way. Leave me alone.” Those are the Evil One’s dividing words. Division is sin’s curse. And sin’s curse divides.
    This is why Jesus “came to bring division”. His distinct kingdom teachings are to divide you from sin and evil in order to join you with God. Certainly Jesus’ “draw-the-line” teachings divide families as he prophesied here. I know of very few families who are unified in the gospel of God. Some are divided between believer and non-believer. Doctrine, traditions or opinions divide others. Spiritual warfare strives to divide God’s people, so we remain weak and ineffective. From the beginning when sin destroyed Adam’s and Eve’s perfection, God’s Word divided their sons (Genesis 4). The parents’ sin unleashed a deadly division against God’s favor throughout history. Galatians 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. Jesus came to divide the believers from the unbelievers, so his own would be saved. Such division will remain until God’s favor ends the conflict. Those who reject God’s favor will live in eternal conflict. Those who receive his favor will declare, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
    Does your family need the Lord’s favor more abundantly? Be firm to learn and know God’s eternal favor. Join the battle with prayer. Be a living example of Jesus’ passion, compassion, love, forgiveness and mercy. Be of God’s favor to tell the gospel. Be faithful to live it. Do your part. Join with God to do his will. Then be satisfied in the Lord’s sovereign favor. Remember, he is your Father in Heaven. Rejoice and rest in this great assurance.
 
Prayer: I thank you Jesus, that you came “to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Luke 4:19). Amen. 

Luke 12:49-50 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!”
 
LET’S begin this “fire-baptism” lesson with John the Baptist’s words from Luke 3:16 “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” As God’s anointed prophet, John pointed to Jesus as the one who would ignite the Kingdom of God on earth. Jesus affirms he is the one with his words, “I have come to bring fire on the earth.”
    Fire is generally used in two very-different symbolic ways throughout the Bible. First, fire points to judgment as in in Deuteronomy 4:24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.  Second, fire represents God’s life and power as at Pentecost: Acts 2: 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. The fire Jesus desires here is God’s judgment.
    Yes, it’s true Jesus did not come to judge, but to save (Matthew 20:28). And he often points to his second coming as the day of judgment (Matthew 13:41). Yet, in this moment our servant Lord desires the holy judgment fire to devour evil and to cleanse the world for God’s righteousness. Has the Lord shifted his purpose?
    Jesus’ purpose didn’t change; he desires the Father to complete his salvation plan for the world. If you have been following Jesus’ kingdom teachings this past week, you have read Jesus’ judgment words: Believe and live for God – or suffer eternal punishment. Now Jesus declares he is ready for the baptism of the cross. He is eager for the Father’s judgment fire to consume sin.
    Jesus is the Son of God, who longs for God’s holiness to recreate and rule the world as at the creation. He is the loving Good Shepherd, eager for all his chosen people to live in his joy and love.
    Impatient for the cross, eager for God’s cleansing fire, Jesus longs for the day Eden will be restored. He keenly desires his own to be with him. What great love we should know for such a Savior!
    Does God’s fire need to cleanse you in some way? Do you lovingly consider Jesus’ baptism on the cross? This is your personal Lord and Savior. He is ready for the trumpet to sound, so you can go home to him.
 
Prayer: I love you, Jesus. Your baptism and judgment have removed my sin. In you I am free of my past. I am joyful to live forever with you. Amen.   

Luke 12:47-48 “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
 
WHEN people say, “Jesus loves everyone.”  are they including his words here? Did you know Jesus, the Servant Savior, has spoken these very hard words? He calls to account people who say, “I am a Christian.”  but do not live into Christ’s ways. Great punishment awaits those who have been taught much about the Lord’s words but refuse to respond to the Living Word.
    These are not new words from God to his chosen people. See our Lord speak similar words through the law and the prophets. From the law: Leviticus 26:18 “If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over.”  From a prophet: Amos 3:1-2 Hear this word the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel — against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt: 2 “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”
    What is your response to God’s Word? Have you heard the Lord’s teachings, read his Bible, listened to sermons and understood his will? Then know you are held to a higher standard than the unbeliever. You are as the top aide to the President or Prime Minister. You know and are entrusted with very much strategic and life-influencing informaiton. If you fail to fulfill the leader’s will, you will possibly harm many people and certainly incur his wrath. It is the same with God. Perhaps you might think it would be better to know less of God. After all, those with less knowledge are punished less for their disobedience.
    But that is an unfaithful, irresponsible response. As the Lord has suffered and died for you, he has given all of himself for your life. He has called you into the Kingdom of God for eternal life. Your only response is to diligently seek wisdom and knowledge of God. You are to be a disciplined disciple, eager to faithfully do his words in the Spirit’s power. Why would anyone want less of God than all he has for us? How is it possible to say, “Don’t teach me too much, Lord?” 
    Jesus has spoken to direct and encourage you to obey him. This is the highest privilege of life on earth. Live gratefully. Rejoice repeatedly. Praise God passionately. You have heard the truth. You now have the privilege to live in the Kingdom of God.
 
Prayer: Psalms 25:4-5 “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”  Amen.
 

Luke 12:41-46 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” 42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.”
 
PETER asked a very good question. I’ll bet you, too, have asked, “Jesus, are you just talking to your Top Twelve Disciples? Or are you talking to me, too.?” What happens when you confess, “Jesus is talking to me.”
    Hopefully, you are attentive. He’s the teacher who calls you to account, “Answer the question or get a failing grade.” He’s the employer who warns, “Be on time or you will lose your job.” We have spoken earlier of the ways Jesus draws the line between believers and unbelievers. He does so again here. The Lord does not compromise. Are you hearing his words for you?
    I pray you are. Jesus’ response to Peter tells you that disobedience leads to absolute destruction. What an awful image Jesus describes for the faithful’s punishment. “(The Master) will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” In other teachings, Luke records Jesus describing other horrific scenes of Hell. Luke, the author, is Spirit-inspired to declare Jesus’ urgent words. The Savior speaks such language to awaken you to know his words are for you to learn and obey. Listen. Turn your ears from sin to salvation.
    Be assured. Jesus is the Living Word, who speaks, “I tell you the truth.” Believe, as John records, he has spoken the world into existence. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:1-3) Then at the right moment, the Lord has spoken you into life. He speaks now through the Spirit-inspired Bible to precisely and personally tell you the specific way to eternal life.
    Acknowledge, “Jesus is talking to me.” Rejoice and be glad he counts you worthy to hear his teachings. Be a true disciple. As a teacher or parent says, “It will be good for you if you obey me.” Jesus promises, “It will be good for (you) whom the master finds doing so when he returns.” May he find you faithful to welcome you into his eternal reward.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your life-giving words. I receive them in faith. Amen.

Luke 12:35-40 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
 
WE have a sense that tomorrow will always come, don’t we? But we know it doesn’t come for hundreds of thousands of people each day. Life ends abruptly or after a long struggle. The Lord urges all who call him, “Master” to be prepared at any moment to stand in his presence. 
    Verse 37 focuses on Jesus’ reward for your preparation. As Luke wrote to Theophilus (see Luke 1:3), who was a Roman citizen, he would know this image of a master serving and eating with his servants would be offensive to his friend and to any Roman of position or some wealth. No Roman master would consider such servant work to his own slaves.
    But Jesus describes here the image of a servant leader he exhibited in John 13:5 as he washed his disciples’ feet. What’s more, he declared his servant heart in Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus assures his disciples again that he has prepared a table before for them. Be then prepared to welcome him into your life now and forever. The Master will be your friend as you “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)
    What a wondrous image the Lord gives to you! “Be dressed ready for service.” each day to meet with him through Bible study, prayer, worship and service. Live in Jesus’ assurance, “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready.” He has promised God’s perfection to you. Rejoice and be glad.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for the loving image you give to me. I long to serve you each day. I am ready to be with you forever. Amen.

Luke 12:33-34 “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
 
WHAT does your heart treasure? Whatever you hold as most precious to you will motivate your actions. For many of us, our work is our most treasured possession, isn’t it? We put aside relationships, recreation, rest and even our Lord in order to “work hard”. Many treasure relationships above all else to even stop daily tasks and spend time with a friend or new acquaintance. Some treasure hobbies. Most of us treasure our bank account above all.
    That’s why Jesus’ kingdom teaching here relates to our money. As the Lord pointedly teaches, “Sell all your possessions and give to the poor.” you might think he wants you to give away all your money. That is not his intent. He does not want you to become poor and rely on others for your daily needs.
    Instead, Jehovah Jireh (meaning “the Lord will provide”) calls on his followers to model his generosity. A citizen of God’s kingdom is to have a large and loving heart. Be prepared and willing offer some of your worldly treasures to people who need physical care. If you treasure Jesus’ kingdom teaching, each generous heart action will be as a purse that lasts forever. Generosity strengthens your account with God. No one can steal these treasured blessings God holds for you in his eternal kingdom.
    How is your kingdom purse? Is your heart willing to tithe to your church? Does your heart offer to friends and family who are in need? Are you generous to care for God’s own as he has cared for you? As you consider your answers, remember how the Father treasures you. As you have read and recited John 3:16 many times in your life, stop now to purposefully consider: 1) God so loved you. 2) He gave his one and only Son. 3) If you believe in him, you will have eternal life.
    Be generous as the Lord has been generous.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for all I possess. I pray these things are not my treasure, but you are the One I hold in my heart above all. Grant me a generous heart, Lord, to honor people in need with your tender love. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
 
AS he uses the phrase “little flock”, Jesus speaks to us as the Good Shepherd to reveal the Father’s loving gift to his own.  “Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”  Think of it! The Son of God affirms your Father in Heaven is pleased to give to you his Kingdom. This is the Father’s gift of love, hope, joy and peace – of everlasting life in eternal glory. The Father’s generous miracle is beyond our comprehension. After all, we are simply sheep. Sheep need care, protection and guidance. As sheep have no ability to live and thrive without a good shepherd, we have no ability to live with God on our own merit. The Father welcomes us into his comforting, secure kingdom as we follow his way to life. Does this remind you of another very comforting Scripture?
    The beloved Psalm 23 comes to mind. The assuring words declare the Lord God is your true shepherd, granting to you the way of life eternal. Following him, you will have all you need. He will give you a quiet place to rest. Your soul will be filled with his strength and peace. The Lord will guide you to right living, so his name will be known and praised to the nations.
    Yes, you can even know his comfort and strength when you walk through the dark days that strive to turn you astray. With such a Father, “little flock”, you need not be afraid of anything that opposes you, not even death. After all, you know the Father is with you. His commands and teachings point you to him. They comfort you as you can trust his truth is the way of life in his eternal kingdom.
    Yes, the Father “has been pleased to give you the kingdom” He has prepared a table for you to exalt you above your enemies. He crowns you with life as the oil of salvation flows over your soul. Surely goodness and love will follow you all the days of your life because you have faith you will dwell in the Kingdom of God forever.
    In Christ, the Father has been pleased to offer you this eternal gift. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your eternal gift upon my soul. I have all I want in you. In Jesus’ name I praise you. Amen.

Luke 12:29-31 “And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” 
 
HERE is Jesus’ good counsel to direct your heart and mind to be in peace: seek God first. But what about your daily food and drink? Shouldn’t these be your priority? After all, you need them to live. Does Jesus men that once you are physically sustained, then you can seek God’s kingdom?
    But think about this. Do we not struggle with God because we put our physical needs and desires first? This is why mankind lives in sin’s curse. Go back to Genesis 3. What caused the sin? The first couple disobeyed God’s “food command” for physical pleasure: Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Genesis 3:6a “When the woman saw the fruit at the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye”. In response, Adam and Eve lost God’s blessing in Genesis 1:29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”  A curse of toil marked their physical lives: Genesis 3:17-19 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust, you are and to dust you will return.” Remember this: desiring food more than God led to death.
    Thankfully, Jesus came to transform our minds to a faithful God-first order., Jesus’ kingdom teachings pointed to the Father’s plan to redeem man’s “me-first” heart and restore his creation blessing. Jesus points your mind to first be set on God’s truths. Remember, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) With such desires, you are confessing to God, “You are the source of life. I trust you for my daily bread. I believe in you for my eternal food and water.”
    Do you doubt this? Then look around the world, near and far. See the massive poverty that causes starvation and deprivation in millions of lives. The root cause of these hardships is the sin of putting physical desires before God’s commands. People neglect God’s command to work. They disregard God’s commands of purity in marriage, submission to one another, honor for children and love for each other. In Jesus’ church, tithing is rare. Sadly, a local, large church reports that 40% of its congregation give nothing to the church. Putting the physical ahead of God’s Word is idolatry. It destroys lives. It is the pathway to worry, stress, fear and loss.
    Heed Jesus’ words. He has spoken the way of life. Seek God first. Your Lord will care for you now and into eternity as you live on the pathway to Heaven’s blessings: Revelation 22:1-4 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 
 
Prayer: Put my eyes, heart and mind first on you, Lord. All I need is you. Amen.