Luke 12:49-56 (NRSV)
Read Luke 12:49-56 on biblegateway.com
Verse 49"I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! Verse 50I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Verse 51Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! Verse 52From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; Verse 53they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
Verse 54He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'It is going to rain'; and so it happens. Verse 55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. Verse 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
Devotion
Flashing lights indicated “No Entry” on that new stretch of road, but the prospective groom was late for rehearsal. It had rained a few hours earlier, and the road had a real sheen to it. But, the man was in a hurry. So he disregarded the sign and slowly moved on. Just when he was fifty yards from getting through the new construction, his car came to a stop. Opening his door, the young fellow realized that he would have to step into deep mud with his new shoes so that he could go for help. And as he walked on, he thought to himself rather sadly, “I wonder what other choices there were.”
Life is filled with all kinds of choices. Sometimes, faith causes us to make a choice between following the ways of Christ and the ways of the world. Sometimes, following Christ requires that we change directions.
Prayer
Holy God, When there is a fork in the road, and we are uncertain of which way to go, help us to turn to you for guidance, and grant to us that we may know the life you intend for us. Amen.