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Thursday, October 21, 2004

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Ephesians 3:14-21
Psalm 33
Luke 12:49-53

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divided we fall — and rise

"I have come for division." —Luke 12:51

Jesus is the Divine Physician (see Mt 9:12). In an operation to remove a malignant tumor, a surgeon divides the healthy cells from the cancerous cells. He removes only the cancer and leaves the rest. Likewise, Jesus divides the good and bad (Mt 25:32).

Jesus is "the Carpenter" (Mk 6:3). In His workshop, He divided strong wood from rotten wood. He divided broken nails from sturdy ones. "What was useless [He] threw away" (Mt 13:48).

Jesus is the Word of God (Jn 1:1). He, the Living Word, "divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow" and "judges the reflections and thoughts of the heart" (Heb 4:12). He divides us from sinful thoughts, bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, and impurity.

Jesus is Family with the Holy Spirit and "the Father from Whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name" (Eph 3:14-15). As He divides all else, Jesus also divides families if they need to be rebuilt or restored (Lk 12:52-53). If necessary, Jesus will divide father and son, mother and daughter, in-laws, and anyone or anything that divides the family from God's plan.

Why has Jesus "come for division"? (Lk 12:51) It is because God is Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16). Love is consuming. Love suffers anguish  (Lk 12:50) until we "attain to the fullness of God Himself" (Eph 3:19). Love can't tolerate anything holding us back from that fullness. Therefore, repent completely of anything that holds you back from the Lord — before Jesus has to divide you from it.

Prayer:  Father, bestow on us gifts in keeping with the riches of Your glory (Eph 3:16).

Promise:  "You will be able to grasp fully...the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love, and experience this love which surpasses all knowledge." —Eph 3:18-19

Praise:  Jana experienced a heart-wrenching division in her extended family until God healed and reunited them all in His love.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, March 30, 2004


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 1, 2004