Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Matthew 10:34
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No cheap peace
This is one of Jesus' most confusing sayings. He, the Prince of Peace, brings a sword? Straight afterwards he quotes the prophet Micah: a son against his father, a daughter against her mother.
It isn't a call to violence. At the same place Luke says: division. Jesus says honestly that choosing him can cause tension, even in families. He promises peace with God, but not a cheap peace in which everything stays the same.
Question for today
Where does my faith cause tension, and how do I deal with it?
Prayer
Lord, give me courage when my choice for you causes tension. And give me love for those who see it differently. Amen.