Christ:

The Great Divider 

The Old Testimony is full of scripture showing God’s plan for bringing great division in the world. In those days, every Prophet and miracle God used wasn’t enough for them to stay firm on His word. The Lord needed another way for His truth to stand out and prepared the world for Christ. God made Christ the sole heir to His Kingdom.  

Jesus is the ultimate Authority on God’s law.

Christ, the great divider unites us with our inheritance to God. When Christ lived on earth, people had problems grasping His sovereignty. They expected the Messiah to crush the Roman’s rule and lead them to another promised land. Their focus was on how God delivered His mercy in the past, and it blinded them from the Lamb of God.

Christ made it obvious He wasn’t the peacemaker. One reason for Christ’s division is in Matthew’s gospel. Jesus said this: “Do not think that I came to earth to bring peace on earth, I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” (Matthew 10: 34)

The sword Jesus brought is God’s justice for disobeying His commands. God gave Christ the power to put right His people and shine light on His word. Christ’s wisdom stunned those believers and made them uncomfortable. Jesus came to separate the truth from the false. 

Here is where God established one of His holy reason for being in the flesh. Jesus identified the family as a place of separation and used love as its reason. (Matthew 10: 35-37).

Christ pointed out the love of Him is greater than one’s love for any family member. To love others more than Jesus is a sign of unworthiness. Real self-esteem results from one’s love for Christ. God values our lives, and His greatest manifestation of our worth comes from loving Christ. The Christian reality of loving Christ first is our affection for family glorifies God.

Remember, we are God's creations and are given His trust in helping Him to create. Wow, God allows us to be partners with Him! Now if this truth isn’t enough to convince me to love God above everything, then I need to reevaluate my conviction?  My eternal destination rests upon my love for Christ.

Jesus disclosed the enemy has no boundaries and exists in the family. Satan uses abortion, contraception, same-sex marriages and artificial stimulation as the means to destroy the family. The destruction they bring is undeniable and aimed at abolishing our genetic connection to God. Satan is cunning and knows God cherishes the family, so he attacks its moral fiber.

Christ’s next two commands (Matthew 10: 38-39) are action steps. First, Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him. Then He tells us to lose our life for His sake. Again the Messiah places our worth on abandoning ourselves over to Him or faces eternal consequences.  

Seeking Christ takes daily action, and our experiences with hidden obstacles are proof of this truth. God gives us a daily reprieve and waits for us to turn to His guidance and protection. Without trusting Christ, we are weakened and make it easy for God’s enemy to permeate our spirits. Our eternal lives are at stake, and imperative to have God’s grace in our lives.

Humility is a prime example of losing ourselves in Christ. A humble life is a selfless existence and the key to unlocking the essence of God’s favor. Pride flees from spiritual submission for it can’t stand Christ. Humility opens a channel so God can fill our hearts with His Spirit.      

Another place Christ brought great division was amongst the spiritual leaders. The Messiah was candid with them and never stopped correcting their self-righteous ways. God exposed their prideful deeds. They couldn’t digest this unpalatable reality and plotted Christ’s death.

Christ used brutal honesty to put God’s truth in the face of the scribes and Pharisees. The entire 23^Rd Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel is directed at their wrongful interpretation of God’s Law. They used their understanding instead of living in the purity of God’s word. Jesus exposed them as unbelievers and divided them from the divine doctrine. Their reaction to Christ’s truth resulted in killing Him.

Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites. Christ, backed up this claim by naming a list of their prideful sins. They balked at His accusations and couldn’t accept being challenged by a man. Here God was in front of them, but they didn't notice Him. They tried to test Christ by asking Him tricky questions about the law, but Jesus showed them God’s way and crushed their false faith.

The separation Christ has brought to my life is remarkable. Part of my past involved agnostic beliefs, sexual immorality, alcoholism and self-seeking attitudes. This lifestyle was unmanageable, unreliable and unholy. I caused emotional, mental, spiritual and sometimes physical harm to those in my path. My conscience was nonexistent and my spirit was dead. I wanted to die!

Then one day I heard God’s call. That day was the end of my unsaved life and the start of a Spirit filled life centered in Christ. I am grateful to share this with you today. The power of Christ is extraordinary. Glory to God!

My Christian awakening continues to evolve and my spirit is renewed daily. One truth, Christ has shown me is knowing part of my family is lost. I don’t know God’s plan for them, but their beliefs are not right. My prayers to God is for Him to do His will in their lives before doing something for me. I place their souls in Christ’s hands.

We have discussed a few ways Christ separates good from evil. The Gospels are full of Christ’s wisdom of right and wrong. It’s our responsibility to understand, believe and honor those truths.  

Christ division is simple. It happened the day He shed His blood and took on the sins of the world. Jesus defeated Satan and opened God’s door. God is available to anyone who loses their life in Christ.

What effect has Christ’s division made on your life?