I’ve felt the sword Jesus speaks of. Not in violence, but in the quiet division that comes when you choose to love like Him in ways that make people uncomfortable.
I’ve been called to reflect His love through acceptance. And honestly, it’s cost me. People don’t always understand that it’s because of my faith that I choose to sit with those others avoid. That I trust Jesus to show up through my actions, not just my words.
The rejection isn’t theoretical, it’s real. It’s in the silence from churches, the closed doors from ministries, the way people look past me because I don’t fit their mold. And yet, I still believe. I still carry the cross. I still follow.
Because I know He sees. I know I’m worth more than many sparrows. And I know that even if no one else receives me, He does.
Thank you for this. It reminded me that the discomfort doesn’t mean I’m off track, it might mean I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
At this point in Jesus’ story, the phrase “pick up their cross and follow me” seems like it might have been something the people he was talking to might not have understood. Given he hadn’t been crucified yet. For sure, crucifixion was well known, but we have the benefit of hindsight for this and it reads as a specific call-back (…forward?) The early hearers of this gospel had the call-back too, but those Jesus was talking to did not.
I’ve felt the sword Jesus speaks of. Not in violence, but in the quiet division that comes when you choose to love like Him in ways that make people uncomfortable.
I’ve been called to reflect His love through acceptance. And honestly, it’s cost me. People don’t always understand that it’s because of my faith that I choose to sit with those others avoid. That I trust Jesus to show up through my actions, not just my words.
The rejection isn’t theoretical, it’s real. It’s in the silence from churches, the closed doors from ministries, the way people look past me because I don’t fit their mold. And yet, I still believe. I still carry the cross. I still follow.
Because I know He sees. I know I’m worth more than many sparrows. And I know that even if no one else receives me, He does.
Thank you for this. It reminded me that the discomfort doesn’t mean I’m off track, it might mean I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
A challenging passage, for sure.
Still trying to figure the sword thing out.
At this point in Jesus’ story, the phrase “pick up their cross and follow me” seems like it might have been something the people he was talking to might not have understood. Given he hadn’t been crucified yet. For sure, crucifixion was well known, but we have the benefit of hindsight for this and it reads as a specific call-back (…forward?) The early hearers of this gospel had the call-back too, but those Jesus was talking to did not.
Thank god for the birds.
But yeah, tough one here.