Enemies of the Household

Matthew 10:34-37 – Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

1. We believe becoming a Christian should be a joyous family occasion. When a member of the family places their faith in Jesus, they expect the family to be happy for them and celebrate. Many of us expect immediate changes in how our spouses and children relate to us. However, many family members don’t celebrate, they prepare for battle.

2. The family becomes the enemy. Jesus said He did not come to bring peace on earth, but a sword. Most of us associate Jesus with bringing love and peace, not disagreement and separation among those closest to us. The expectations the new believer was seeking within their home may soon fade as the family members becomes their enemy. Because of Jesus and the impact being made within the new believer, the family will persecute them. Maybe the family will seek to draw the new believer back to their previous behavior, cause them to argue and fight, or push their emotional buttons to get a response.

3. The new believer has a choice to make. Many people want to be loved, accepted, and understood – especially by those closest to them (1 Corinthians 7:32-33). If those closest to us persecute us because we placed our faith in Jesus, there is a choice to make:

Do we continue to believe in Jesus and accept the persecution which comes from our own family members or do we return to our old nature and ways to appease those we love?

Matthew 10:37-39 – He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

4. Hold fast to Jesus and His Word. As hard as things may be (or become) within your family, you must love Jesus more. Your actions (faith in Jesus) may become the catalyst to move upon the hearts of your family. Allow your patient endurance to be an investment for God to move within your household. Intercede for your family members in prayer, read God’s Word, and build solid relationships within your church family.

^{Photo courtesy of Flickr.com/chiphilly. Image covered under Creative Commons License.}