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From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.

Luke 12:52

For almost all of the modern Jewish households I have known about this is the reality. Jesus causes this division because to submit to him requires a genuine change of heart. But the gospel also has a powerful pull that is not easily resisted.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the power of the gospel! The truth is really worth living for. It changes everything! Your grace, your mercy, and your love, bring undescribable joy to our hearts. Can we ever thank you enough? In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

Luke 12:51

Though the message of Christ is a message of peace, it brings peace with God, not always peace with man. As Christians we desire peace with all people.

But people divide over Christ. Oh the enemy will accept a lot of truth. Our foe will not run from anything, until Jesus is brought to bear upon it. The old serpent has decived hoards of good moral, kind, and friendly people. And they will divide more quickly with true followers of Christ than anyone.

Heavenly Father, without You we would be so confused, so lost in the maze of the enemy’s lies. You bring The Truth and Hope into our lives. Thank You! Only by Your guidance can we live lives that truly matter. Your grace upholds us daily! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

But I have a baptism to undergo, and how it consumes me until it is finished!

Luke 12:50

Jesus is of course not referring to water baptism at all here. Instead, He is talking about His upcoming death, burial, and resurrection. He Who had been for all eternity was to experience death, and be baptized into new life.

It is easy for us to forget that upon His ascension Jesus did not cease to have a human form. The first advent, the first Christmas, we see the incarnation, which is a permanent condition. But, through the baptism into life, Jesus, though actually human, is as eternal as He ever was.

Jesus was looking forward to this event. He anticipated the victory. The plan of the Godhead would in many ways consumate in the cross and resurrection. He constantly thought of it during His time here on earth.

Heavenly Father, You are The One this is all about. All glory to You by Christ through the Spirit! Your plan, Almighty God, is so perfect! We look forward to the future in which Christ will complete the plan by the power of what He has already finished. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

“I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze!

Luke 12:49

The ministry of Christ had a very profound and far reaching impact upon this world. Christ’s zeal here is a small glimpse into His desire to see this world filled with righteousness.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your great work! You have chosen this world, this universe, as the testing ground. You have allowed evil, but only to show Your goodness, mercy, and love. You are wise beyond all measure. I will sing in my heart to the glory of Your plan all of my life here and in eternity! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

But the one who did not know and did what deserved punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected.

Luke 12:48

This is a standard throughout Scripture. We find it over and over again. Willful ignorance is no excuse. But those who are, through no fault of their own, ignorant, will suffer lighter consequences. On the other hand, those who understand more, will have more expected of them.

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for this day to serve you. Thank you for your graciousness, goodness, and holiness! You are truly amazing! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten.

Luke 12:47

In God’s plan those who are given the most information are expected to have the most responsibility. To be ignorant of something is one thing, to ignore it is quite another.

Heavenly Father, You are just and good and holy. We will stand in awe of You forever! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unfaithful.

Luke 12:46

The Lord is the just judge. Sometimes we think that He is ignoring the evil that is going on around us. But, He is not.

Heavenly Father, Your justice and righteousness shines like the sun! You are so holy and pure! Thank You for Your judgements. To have a perfect judge is a great comfort. You are faithful and You are true. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and starts to beat the male and female slaves, and to eat and drink and get drunk,

Luke 12:45

Notice the activities of this one who believes the master is not coming soon. Violence, drunkenness, and all kinds of evil activities will be perpetrated by such a person.

I have found that there are among Christians many who want to push the return of the Lord off. They feel that they know something else that must happen first. Or, they live without a sense of the PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit in His church. Both are grave errors.

Heavenly Father, Your power is beyond all that we can imagine! You have given man a mind that can see so much. We have by our arts and sciences conceived of so much, and yet we realize we know so little. Thank You for Your Divine Wisdom that guides our lives and comforts our minds. When I consider the works of Your hands, I think, ‘What could the Lord not do?’ And, this gives me such hope for the future. This present evil world must be the darkest the day will ever be. And, as such, how bright can it get? I will praise You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

Luke 12:44

With privilege comes responsibility. The Lord has every intention to give us activities in eternity. He will trust us with more and more. This is His practice. He doesn’t just rule manage everything Himself, He deligates.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the amazing world You have made! I am so glad to be one of Your many servants. You are The One that I serve. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.

Luke 12:43

One of the things many people fail to understand is that the Lord created us for Himself. Even back in the perfect garden he had given humans a task.

So, we serve Him. That is the greatest privilege any of us can have, to be the servant of the Lord God Almighty.

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us a job to do and the tools we need to do it with. You are wise and strong and good. I will lift my hands to praise You forever. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.