Matthew 10:34–39 (ESV)
Not Peace, but a Sword
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against
her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 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. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and
whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
The radical nature of following Jesus may result in conflict and divisions within families. Jesus wants His disciples
to strive for eternal life, even if this means sacrificing earthly benefits. In all honesty, we must confess that we often fail to put Jesus first in our lives, that we do not take up His cross and follow Him. What we fail to do, Jesus did for us. He took
up His cross and paid the penalty for the sins of the world. In Him, we have peace.
I pray: Thank You, Jesus, for bearing my cross on Calvary and making
me Your highest priority. Amen.[1]