Family Division

Family

Division

So many things divide the family today

The family is under attack

Division is painful and destructive

Jesus warned us that following Him causes division 

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.

Jesus is not against family, He is the author of family

When division comes remember this

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,…

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Yes, Jesus was born and was part of two families

Jesus is the Everlasting Father the model for all families

And the Prince of Peace

When division comes to the family let the Prince of Peace turn your anger into pity

Show love even when it hurts to see family members not follow Him

                                                         

  Division

Isaiah 9:6 is a very popular verse at Christmas time…

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

We take a lot of comfort in these words.

A Child is born, a Child with two fathers.

We don’t always think of it this way,

 but remember when Jesus was left behind

at the temple and his mom and dad

were, you might say, concerned.

Jesus’ reply to them was…

 “I must be about my Father’s business.”

Luke 2:49

Jesus’ life style of doing His Father in heaven’s business

 will created stress with His earthly family at times.

Remember when His family thought He was insane

(Mark 3:21) because He allowed the work of the

Heavenly Father to get in the way of His

eating and personal health.

Or, the time Jesus received word His family

came to see Him and He turn to the crowd and said...  

“Who is my mother?”

Matthew 12:48

Having two fathers, two families

can bring division.

It is plain to see Jesus’ first

allegiance was to His Heavenly Father.

This did not mean He did not

love and respect His earthly family.

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry,

 when Jesus’ mother shared her concern

that the wine ran out at the wedding,

Jesus gladly took care of the issue.

At the end of Jesus’ life, suffering in

unbelievable pain and death, speaks to

John to take care of His mother.

 John 19:26

Isaiah says this Child will be called…

    

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jesus understood family.

 He was born into a family and He

 will be called Everlasting Father,

that means He must have children.

Family is a big part of who Jesus is

and what He stands for.

 The final two words that describe Jesus is…

 “Prince of Peace”

With this in mind read Luke 12:51…

Do you think I came to bring peace on earth?

No, I tell you, but division.    

The verses go on to tell us
Jesus will divide families.

Family members will be against each other.

So is Jesus the Prince of Peace or

did He come to bring division of families?

There is nothing more painful than when

division comes between family members.

Malachi 4:6,  tells us a divided 

family brings a curse upon its 

self if they will not allow God to 

turn their hearts toward each other

He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, 
and the hearts of the children to their fathers;  
or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."

So what is Jesus trying to say?

 Can He be both the Prince of Peace

and not come to make peace.

Luke 9:61 is a warning that families will be divided,

anger, frustration, even hatred enter into families.

History has many examples of family decay.

Jesus is warning us that it will happen again

and in the last days families will be divided.

The scriptures are full of excellent advice

on how to build strong, united families.

So Jesus’ warning that families will be

divided should tell us we must prepare

for times that will divide the family.

We must not forget Jesus had two families.

Just like those of us who are born again.

Jesus always lined up His earthly family

relationship with His Heavenly Father.

As important as family is…

 The earthly family is dysfunctional when it does

not line up with the Heavenly Father’s design.

Joshua made a strong declaration…

“As for me and my house we will serve the Lord”

 Just as we should take the warning that we

should build strong unified families.

We should be prepared for those times

when division comes to the family.

  When a family member chooses

not to follow or serve the Lord.

This is a challenging time.

Because, like Jesus, we must be

about our Heavenly Father’s business.

So how do we handle peace

and division in the home?

First remember peace comes from an invitation to all…

Jesus said, “Follow Me”

Lead don’t force.

Don’t stop or compromise following the Lord.

This does not mean we

become angry, resentful.

 But in love have pity on those

who choose not to follow the Lord.

It is a sad and painful life that harbors

bitterness, anger, and hatred in the heart.

I have brothers who are atheist,

they love to debate and would like

to shut me down with their arguments.

I have chosen to continue to love them.

 I have pity and want to see

their bitterness removed.

I don’t debate with them.

 Following Jesus means I cannot stay

angry over things we will never agree on.

My life, if I am following Jesus, should be a

light that speaks louder than heated debates.

Jesus warns us not to make peace at

any cost or peace for the sake of peace.

Peace only comes as we

follow the Prince of Peace.

And we should always have an attitude of love

toward those who do not want to follow Him.

Replace anger with pity.

        

     

Scripture Reading

Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace

there will be no end.

Luke 12:49-53 NIV

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."

Malachi 4:5-6 NIV

 5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."