To Set the Earth on Fire

Scripture: Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Reaction: I have always found this passage to be a bit unsettling, but today I did not focus on the division, but rather on the fire. Jesus has set so many hearts ablaze, and I am ever thankful that mine is one of them! I envisioned the division He spoke of to be the difference between the people in my life who feel the flame of God’s love and presence, and those who do not give much of a thought one way or the other to the Lord. I know many family members are in the second category, and during my meditation I had the feeling that what I need to do is simply to pray for them. I asked Jesus to set their hearts and minds afire with faith and lover for Him, and to help me show them, by my example, the joy that comes from a deep, warm relationship with God.