Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Psalm 105:23-45; Matthew 10:34-42"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword."
(Matthew 10:34)
When Jesus comes first in our hearts and lives there comes upset to priorities and particularly to relationships. To be his disciple means just this - he is first. Period. First in affection and love; first in honor and obedience; first in allocation of resources; first in where one spends his time and energy, indeed one's life.
The "Sar Shalom" (the Prince of Peace) does come to bring peace, but not in the realm where he is not recognized as Master and Lord. This seems to be an explanation for the previous sections where Jesus is readying the disciples for the difficulties they will experience in bringing "good news" to people.
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (v. 37)
So the relationship building and blessing with peace (vs. 5-15, from Monday) and the remembrance of our value (vs. 16-33, from Tuesday) are all in the context of following Jesus Christ as Master and Lord, of valuing him above all, of trusting God and serving God before self and before any other important person in our lives. We will know peace that surpasses understanding if the most important person who ever lived is indeed the most important person in our hearts and lives.
So he brought his people out with joy,
his chosen ones with singing.
And he gave them the lands of the nations,
and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil,
that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws.
Praise the LORD!
(Psalm 105:44-45)
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (v. 37)
So the relationship building and blessing with peace (vs. 5-15, from Monday) and the remembrance of our value (vs. 16-33, from Tuesday) are all in the context of following Jesus Christ as Master and Lord, of valuing him above all, of trusting God and serving God before self and before any other important person in our lives. We will know peace that surpasses understanding if the most important person who ever lived is indeed the most important person in our hearts and lives.
So he brought his people out with joy,
his chosen ones with singing.
And he gave them the lands of the nations,
and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil,
that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws.
Praise the LORD!
(Psalm 105:44-45)
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