“I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division” (KJV, Luke 12:49-51) .
“I am come to send fire on the earth”
Father, I thank You for the ministry of Jesus Christ. I thank You that Christ atoned for my sin, and You have forgiven me. I thank You that I need not fear the final judgment because You have declared me not guilty.
However, I see that Christ came for judgment. At the same time, I read elsewhere that Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Therefore, I must deduce that, ultimately, the ministry of Christ would cause division among the people of the land.
Thank you for sending Christ and not leaving me to fend for myself. If You chose to leave me to myself, I would be hopeless. I cannot save myself, nor can I ascend into heaven. Christ must bring me to heaven. Christ must hoist me upon His shoulder like a lost lamb and carry me there.
“and what will I, if it be already kindled?”
Father, I see that Jesus was eager to fulfill His ministry. Jesus was eager for His people to rise and confess Him as Lord. I pray that the ministry of Christ will be spread abroad. I pray that Your kingdom would come and that Your will would be done on the earth.
“But I have a baptism to be baptized with”
Jesus spoke of a baptism in which He would be baptized. I know that He is telling me of His death. Father, I thank You for the implications of Christ’s death. I see that my heart needs to change, but I cannot simply change my heart without Your help. I see that a record of debt stood against me, but I could not pay the fine.
However, You sent Christ into this world to save me. You sent Christ to come and die. In Christ, I find a solution to my heart problem. In Christ, I find payment for my debt.
You have baptized me into Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. You have given me a new heart and made me a partaker of Christ’s divine nature.
“and how am I straitened till it be accomplished”
Sometimes I can grow weak. Sometimes I do not have the drive to live according to Your will and plan. I see the work that You have called me to, and while my spirit is willing, my flesh grows weak. Your will is often not my will. Your plan often runs contrary to my plan. So please forgive me for my sin and help me to honor You in my life.
I see a fire burned within Christ until Christ accomplished His ministry. From the beginning of His ministry until the end, He never ceased to fulfill Your plan for Him. I thank You for the endurance and perseverance of Christ. Christ was mocked, beaten, crucified, scourged, and more. Nevertheless, He never gave up on Your will and was passionate about His mission throughout it.
Thank You for not giving up on me, Jesus. Please help me to persevere like You. Give me strength this day to move forward and advance Your kingdom. Help me to be a good example as You were.
“Suppose ye”
Please help me to think rightly about Christ’s first coming. Please help me to control my thoughts and to have a disciplined mind. I know that many false teachings are invading the land and church. Therefore, I pray that You help me guard my mind and heart.
Your Word tells me that I must never cease to strive in my mind for holiness. In 1 Samuel, You have said to me that while man looks on the outward appearance, You look into the heart. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus condemned the Pharisees for turning Your law into external acts of conformity. Jesus told me they honored Him with their mouth, but their hearts were far from Christ.
I pray that it would not be said of me that my heart is far from Christ. Instead, I pray that my mind would be a place of worship and that You would be honored.
“that I am come”
Please show me why You have come to the earth, Jesus. I know the common answers to the question. I know the answers that people love to give. But I read a reason not often spoken of in this verse. Your Word tells me that You have come to bring fire upon the earth.
“to give peace on earth?”
Here I see that You did not come to give peace on the earth. At the same time, I know that You came in peace. I also see that You came to die for sinners so they could be reconciled to God. As a result, You came for peace. Therefore, Your Word tells me that You came for peace and didn’t come for peace. Give me wisdom to know Your Word. I pray for Your Spirit’s help.
“I tell you”
Please speak to me, Lord. I need to hear Your voice. I do not want to listen to the voice of the world. It will only lead me astray. I do not want to listen to the enemy’s voice; it only leads to death. I do not want to hear my voice because I do not know the way I ought to go. I need to listen to Your voice; You have the words of eternal life.
Burden my heart to seek Your face. I pray that You would help me to delight in Your Word. You have given me Your Word and have told me that You will speak to me through Your Word. However, I often get tired and do not want to read Your Word. I frequently prioritize other events and activities and leave Your Word behind when I do. Please teach me to prioritize Your Word and to love your Word. I know I will not hear Your voice unless I read Your Word. I know I will not be equipped to fight the battles I will face apart from carrying my sword with me.
I also pray that You would burden my heart to pray. Prayer often sounds like a great idea to me, but I am often slow to advance in my prayer life. I find that I can get distracted in prayer and that my prayer times are seemingly unprofitable. However, I know that I need to grow in my prayer life. I know that I need to learn to be disciplined in this area. I will not hear Your voice unless I determine to pray that You would speak to me. My prayer life will show how much I believe I need You. I need You, Lord; help me to strive with You in prayer.
“Nay; but rather division”
Father, I see clearly as to the judgment Christ spoke. Thank You for giving me eyes to see. I see Christ came not to bring about peace on earth but to cause division. Ultimately Christ knew that all would not receive His message. Therefore, Christ came and freely offered salvation to all men. Christ did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Christ is not pleased when the wicked perish. However, Christ offers His hand, and the unbeliever must take it by faith.
When someone believes in Jesus, the new believer will live much differently. The more someone grows to be like Jesus, the more the world will hate him for it. The world hated Jesus; let me never think I am on the right path when I get the world to like me. Teach me why Christ has come to the earth. Teach me that Christ came for division. I pray that Your will would be done in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.