Division in the Household
Scripture: “They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother.” (Luke 12.53 ESV)
Family gatherings become minefields. The people who should be closest allies become sources of heartache. Jesus paints this painful picture to prepare us for discipleship’s greatest challenge—when following Christ costs family harmony.
These divisions cut deep because they violate expectations about family loyalty. We assume blood should be thicker than theology, that love should transcend religious differences. Yet Jesus reveals the Gospel creates deeper divisions than any other force because it addresses where you’ll spend eternity.
When one family member comes to faith while others don’t, it’s like someone suddenly speaking a foreign language. The believer’s new priorities—worship, Bible study, biblical morality—seem strange and threatening. What the Christian sees as freedom, the unbeliever perceives as bondage.
This doesn’t mean Christians should be divisive or self-righteous. Authentic faith inevitably creates tension with worldly thinking. The believer cannot pretend all religions lead to God or that truth is relative. These convictions, held with love but without compromise, naturally clash with secular worldviews.
The division Jesus describes confirms we’re on the right path—the world’s rejection echoes its rejection of Christ.
Application/Point for Reflection:
Are you experiencing family division because of your faith? How do you balance loving family members while maintaining commitment to Christ? Where can you find encouragement from other believers who understand this struggle?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, give us wisdom to love our families while remaining faithful to You. Work in our unbelieving loved ones’ hearts and help us be patient witnesses. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Responses