Being Lightning

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

BEING LIGHTNING

Luke 12:49-53

49 "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! 51 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."

NIV

These are difficult words of Jesus to understand unless we know the culture and time in which he spoke them. The direct words seem rather strange that Jesus is sending fire on the earth. We know fire did not break out in Jerusalem until A.D. 70 when the Romans burned the city. We also know the Jews were waiting for the Messiah who they thought would overthrow the Roman oppressor and set up a new Jewish nation with all the temporal prosperity with it. However, this may be more about a spiritual battle against the dark forces of this world. The very oppressors the Jews wanted the Messiah to overthrow were to put him on the cross, at the bequest of the same Jews. This idea that Jesus was not being peace, but fire brings it right home in our world today. There is no doubt that Jesus brings peace to those who have accepted him as their Lord and Savior. He said that his peace he leaves us, not as the world gives peace, but His peace. On the other hand, there is going to be a great divide among families who have spent their lives serving other gods of this world, when one of them is set free through the moving of the Spirit and they reject those gods and turn to Jesus. Although the family may still remain family, there is no union or unity in spirit and in truth. One will be serving one master while the other is serving another master. We know this full well because we have lived in this kind of family. However, this is also applied to the greater family of mankind. There can never be peace between Christians and pagans, to use general terms. We can get along in this world with unbelievers because we are in this world. We live here, work here, shop here, do business here, and whatever else we do to make our way in our culture. We cannot isolate ourselves from all who oppose the way we believe, nor can we openly oppose them through condemnation of their lifestyles, although they oppose us for our lifestyle. This is the fire, Jesus brings, the fire of the Spirit who dwells within those who believe in Jesus. We have a fire in our belly like we have never had before knowing salvation. The truth burns within us, and it spreads all over. The Greek word used as fire can also be used as lightning, as in the light that shines out of us, as we are lightning to the world, which is usually seen amid a storm. So there it is, we are the fire sent forth to light up the world. Will we cause division in our families, most likely, if we are truly the lightning rod of truth?