Peace on earth? Well, not exactly...

This morning, I did my usual Monday morning ritual of stopping by my favorite coffee shop, and settling in with a little breakfast and some time in the Word. I was reading through Luke 12, and read this:

Luke 12:49-53 (NET):

“I have come to bring fire on the earth – and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished! Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! For from now on there will be five in one household 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 her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

Jesus is referring partly to upcoming events in His life, of course, but the main thrust of these verses is to let people know that following Him will incur a cost. Just because you become a believer, doesn't mean that your friends and family will. Some may, but most probably won't. We can't control who gets saved from destruction. Many friends and families are going to find a wedge driven between them. As we get closer to Christmastime, we see the image of the Prince of Peace. Ultimately, that's who He is, indeed. He brings the peace of the heart and soul that comes with His salvation. He came to save us! Great! As we move away from Christmas, and move toward Easter, however, He's not always so popular with people. He starts talking about absolute requirements for being saved. He talks about taking sides, even against your own unrepentant friends and family. He talks about standing with Him, no matter what the ridicule, no matter what the inconvenience, no matter what the loss. Christmas is the embodiment of the promise, but Easter is "where the rubber meets the road," as the tire ads used to say. When it really comes right down to it, who will you side with?