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by Oswald Chambers
"I did not come to bring peace but a sword" — Matthew 10:34
Never be sympathetic with a person whose situation causes you to conclude that
God is dealing harshly with him. God can be more tender than we can conceive,
and every once in a while He gives us the opportunity to deal firmly with
someone so that He may be viewed as the tender One. If a person cannot go to
God, it is because he has something secret which he does not intend to give up—
he may admit his sin, but would no more give up that thing than he could fly
under his own power. It is impossible to deal sympathetically with people like
that. We must reach down deep in their lives to the root of the problem, which
will cause hostility and resentment toward the message. People want the blessing
of God, but they can’t stand something that pierces right through to the heart
of the matter.
If you are sensitive to God’s way, your message as His servant will be merciless
and insistent, cutting to the very root. Otherwise, there will be no healing. We
must drive the message home so forcefully that a person cannot possibly hide,
but must apply its truth. Deal with people where they are, until they begin to
realize their true need. Then hold high the standard of Jesus for their lives.
Their response may be, “We can never be that.” Then drive it home with, “Jesus
Christ says you must.” “But how can we be?” “You can’t, unless you have a new
Spirit” (see Luke 11:13).
There must be a sense of need created before your message is of any use.
Thousands of people in this world profess to be happy without God. But if we
could be truly happy and moral without Jesus, then why did He come? He came
because that kind of happiness and peace is only superficial. Jesus Christ came
to “bring . . . a sword” through every kind of peace that is not based on a
personal relationship with Himself.
Source: Daily Reflections with Oswald Chambers
See Also:
It's All About Him by Greg Laurie
This Jesus who was born in a manger, .., is not some mere historical figure, although He was that. He is alive, and He is still in the business of changing lives. That is the reason He came: to put us in touch with God, to forgive us of all of our sins, and to give our lives purpose and meaning.What does Jesus think of Christmas? by Marcus Honeysett
I asked a group of friends last week what they think of Christmas and got some interesting answers and some slightly ironic ones. A Ghanaian lady said how shocked she was when she arrived in the UK to find that Christmas involves giving presents, but without any real thought about why.Christmas Then and Today
Christmas is about love that is, giving and giving sacrificially. It is the blessed season that engages the world in a covenant of love.Do Not Be Afraid
Have you ever felt overwhelmed or even afraid of what God has called you to do? Maybe you were pursuing a dream or goal and things didn’t turn out the way you planned. Joseph had planned to take Mary as his wife, but when he found out she was pregnant, he didn’t know what to think.
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