“Mixed” Families and Friends
I hope this doesn’t apply to you, but we all know of families and friends who are at odds due to different political beliefs. There are families who no longer celebrate holidays together. There are friends who no longer speak. There is abundant advice about how to handle “mixed” gatherings without it degenerating into permanent separations and all-out-trouble.
I think these current experiences are a “heads up” about divisions among family and friends due to their beliefs about or rejection of Jesus Christ. Some people are getting to practice because of politics.
Jesus Christ told us He came to bring division.
Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. (Matthew 10:34–36)
Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 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. (Luke 12:51–53)
We know persecution of Christians is coming (and now is). We are warned. Read Hebrews 11 to see some examples of past events. Read stories of missionaries and stories (and books) about martyrs. Read current news! What if you have to deny Christ in order to keep your job? Your bank accounts? Your retirement fund? In order to shop for groceries? And what if your spouse, son, daughter adamantly oppose your refusal to deny the Lord? They are affected also, and think your refusal to deny Christ is silly, detrimental to them, etc. etc. etc.
Far-fetched?
Get ready.
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Father, please strengthen our faith and our determination to stay faithful. Please help us look beyond our trials to You. Thank you for Jude 24-25:
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24–25)
