They must also choose
Jesus is bringing a violent sword that separates. And when you announce your
new name, you’ll see a violent reaction among your loved ones. Your new name
will be a dividing sword that separates. You won’t find loved ones lukewarm
about your name - they are either hot or cold. Either they receive you and your
name or they reject you.
The new name is just a little thing, but it tears right at the heart of the
spirit. All your life you’ve been hooked into the state through your name. Your
parents started it all by paying the state tribute money and receiving a birth
certificate. Your parents did not realize that in obtaining a birth certificate,
they authorized the state to make their child of God, a child of the state.
Through the birth certificate, the state had its first opportunity to make your
rules and regulations and issue privileges and benefits.
With your announcement of a new name, given by revelation from God, you are
rejecting that alliance your parents made between you and the state. You are
starting a new life - apart from them. You are hooking in with Jesus and His
kingdom - and that sword divides.
We desire to forsake the marks of the world - the name they gave us, their
licenses, their life plan for us. What will our loved ones say about this? Do we
not awaken in them the same choice that we must make? They too must choose -
either to forsake the world and follow Christ or continue having friendship with
the world and being God’s enemy.25 If they contemplate this basic
question very long, they will realize they must also lose their life and start
anew. And just the thought of making such a revolutionary change tears at the
very heart of their being.
| Today we do these things out of foolishness. Tomorrow you will do
them out of wisdom. |
25 - James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that
friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a
friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
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