That's Not The Jesus I Want....

I went to church tonight in a different congregation than my own since it's a big day for me tomorrow and I'm going to try and sleep in for my health benefit reasons...

The sermon text was based on the portion of Matthew 10 where Jesus says, "I have not come to bring peace, but a two edged sword."

Wait... What?!

Wasn't  Jesus supposed to bring us peace? Love? Harmony? Hope? Fulfillment?

The sermon started off based on advertising slogans, and we often like to think of our Jesus as one who promises to bring peace, harmony, hope, happiness, love, joy.

But here Jesus says He's come, and He's brought a big sword, and He's going to turn people (your own family) against you!

What kind of  a Jesus is that?! That's not the Jesus I want...

But it's the Jesus we have. Because He means following Him isn't going to be easy.

Later, it says,

"If anyone must follow me, He must take up His cross." I've talked about bearing crosses before. You can read about that here.

That's what Jesus means. Everyone has  a cross to bear in this world. Mine is depression and other problems you are well aware of. Nobody goes through life without bearing a cross.

Jesus means that being with Him doesn't always mean perfection, perfect peace, harmony.

He had a cross to bear, the sin of the world, and we have our own crosses to bear.

However, the pastor ended the sermon by reminding us that a better slogan for Jesus is this:

"Jesus comes with a mighty two edged sword. And also with a peace that is even mightier."

There are crosses to bear in our lives, yes. But God always provides us the strength we need, and when we turn to Him, He provides that perfect peace.

I don't want a Jesus with a two edged sword.

I want a Jesus with a two edged sword who's also ready to fill me with His peace.

I found it kind of ironic that we also spoke together portions of Psalm 119- v. 157-158 tonight said this:
"Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
I look at them with disgust because they do not keep your commands."

Yeah, I, like the Psalmist face many persecutors... but Jesus brings His perfect peace.

Isn't God awesome?! I just left worship tonight totally in awe. I'll probably be up at the crack of dawn and end up going again to my home church in the morning, but I still really enjoyed my experience this evening.

Yeah, I've got crosses to bear, but Jesus comes and brings peace, making it a little easier.

What about you? What are some crosses you face in your life? And how does Jesus bring His peace?

Blessings:
-Last night the dinner party was so much fun!

-I had a glass of wine (as ok'd by my psychiatrist) for the first time since September! (I'm not a real drinker, but I haven't been able to enjoy any wine at dinner parties I've been to...)

-Got a lot of small things accomplished today!

-Our last giant inflatable hippo had a hole, and I blew up a new one today!

-Started a new book- "Have a Little Faith" by Mitch Albom

-Worship tonight

-Being invited to come back to the church in August and play for all 3 of their weekend services! It's the largest church in our district! I am so excited!

-I was gluing a VBS poster this afternoon, and the bottle was plugged up. I squeezed really hard, and, well, the bottle exploded, and there was glue all over me, all over the poster, and all over our living room floor. Do you know what I did? I sat and laughed for a really, really long time. If this had happened last year, I probably would have gotten really upset and angry. I just laughed, cleaned up, didn't let it ruin my work or stop me. Made the situation so much better!

-Not being too nervous for tomorrow

-Out to eat after church with my parents

-And at the restaurant we randomly ran into my grandparents!

-Running into a girl I graduated with who I haven't seen since graduation day 4 years ago!

Please pray that my nerves don't act up, and everything goes well tomorrow!