Coming to an Understanding

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. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:36-38

Jesus was teaching and warning the crowd of things to come. The people had spent their lives under one kind of hierarchical method of worship. It was a type of life where there were "haves" and "have nots". Those who were able felt blessed of God and approved. But, the humble folks who tried and failed may have toyed with the idea of giving up and wishing there was more to life.

Jesus brought good news. Everyone would have a chance at an abundant life. The problem started when some embraced the chance wholeheartedly while others pulled back from such radical ideas because it would require all of them. Unfortunately, this oppositional mix was already in family units.

Still, Jesus commanded us to take up our cross and follow Him regardless of those who do not.

There are people in the church who met and fell in love with a Savior after they were adults and had already started their families. They were trying to work out a life without the precious blood of the Lamb. Circumstances bring them to their knees and He met them there and rebuilds their life. They embrace this opportunity with everything in them and they expect when they get it perfectly explained to everyone they love, they too, will embrace it.

When the realization settles that not everyone who hears the good news wants it, what choices are presented? You can forge ahead carrying your cross trying to fit it into your home or you can drop it. You read in the scriptures where Paul admonishes those who are bound to a wife not to seek to be loosed and you accept the challenge. Meanwhile you raise beautiful children and long for deeper.

The church has to come to an understanding that we don't want to revert to dividing into the "haves" and "have nots". There are homes where there is one soul going one way and is suppose to be one with another soul which actively chooses to go another. From the outside it doesn't look very promising and questions arise from naivete. Meanwhile, the cross bearing becomes the only source of comfort. The church sanctuary, prayer room and altar are the oasis these children of God need to stay alive in a very barren land. When the church doors are open for corporate worship they present themselves with abandon because they know it is their only chance to be "alone" with the King of Kings.

Still, beautiful children are being raised.