Friday after the First Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Scripture: St. Matthew 10:34-42 (NKJV)
10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Devotion
The goal of Jesus’ redemptive work was never peace among the worldly nations. Jesus told His disciples, “My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27). Our Savior came to establish peace between God and men by blotting out our sins on the cross. This is the peace we Christians have with God, being justified by faith (Rom. 5:1).
The world was not peaceful when it dealt with our Lord—it hated Him and killed Him. Similarly, the world hates the Church because it follows its Head. When the Gospel goes out, it divides (Heb. 4:12). It enlightens and quickens some, while others reject it and remain in darkness. It is a test of faith when Christian parents must choose between the Lord and their children. Likewise, when children have to choose the Lord over their own parents. It is a test of one’s resolve to follow the Lord while he must deny himself and embrace the cross over an easy life. But Christ doesn’t ask anything more of us than what He went through Himself. Not all of His relatives believed in Him, and His life led Him to the cross. But He promises that, no matter what we lose in this life, we will find more in the life that is to come.
Prayer: O God, the Strength of all them that put their trust in Thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without Thee, grant us the help of Thy grace, that in keeping Thy commandments we may please Thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
