Daily Devotion

 With Pastor Ancel Presnell

“A PURPOSED FILLED LIFE DIVIDES”

Most of us have been taught so much about Christ and the peace He brings to us. This in part is very true. Christ is the only one who can bring peace between us and God. Romans 5:1— “¹ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Peace with God can only come through Christ. Once we have peace with God, we can then, and only then, enjoy the peace of God. Philippians 4:7—” ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Peace with God and of God is reserved exclusively for those who know Christ as Savior!

Jesus gives His disciples a warning about having a wrong assumption of why He come to this earth. He essentially tells them/us to not assume that He came to bring peace to this earth, but quite the contrary; He came to bring sword. A sword is a weapon of warfare. It is a weapon that divides and conquers. Is this sword He is referencing literally a sword of hand-to-hand combat? No! The writer of Hebrews reveals to us exactly what this sword is: Hebrews 4:17—” ¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” This sword is the word of God, and the word of God is truth!

Christ must be our purpose, and He must fill our lives. Christ is truth, and Christ is the Word (John 1:1.) The truth of Christ and the truth of why He came to this earth will divide. If our lives are filled with passion for Christ and He is our purpose in everything that we do, we had better not expect any accolades or a pat on the back. The fact is, we can expect division among our friends and our family. Some would argue that Christ has no purpose in that but read His own words! “I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

If you desire to live a purpose filled life, it will come through consecration to Christ alone. You will be rejected by some of the most cherished people in your life. It could cause division in your family, your workplace, and within your circle of influence. However, we are called to His side, to fulfil His purpose. Examine your circle of influence; Do you need to have conversations centered on the truth of Christ and Him crucified with those that you love? We all do! We just need to prepare ourselves for the cost that may be involved. Is it worth it? The real question is this, Is Christ worth it? The answer is Yes, 10,000X YES!

Matthew 10:34—36 “³⁴ Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. ³⁵ 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. ³⁶ And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household