Modern age relies on various kinds of visual aids to promote technology, business, public awareness and social media updates. Visual aids attract human attention more than any other communication tool. Eye-catching visuals go deep into our mind and stay for a longer period. Moses was astonished by an eye-catching glimpse of a burning bush, he stood there in awe because though the bush was burning it did was not consumed. Problem in our families crop up only because our Master, Jesus, stays invisible as head of our families. If His presence is visible, many things would have been in order in a totally different manner.

Jesus says “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 10:32

Confessing an invisible God is difficult unless and until we have a personal encounter with Him. There are two aspects of invisibility, one is that God is in spirit and is invisible and the other aspect is that god of this age is blinding our eyes.

After motivating us to confess Him before man, Jesus introduces Himself as a God who creates commotion in our family. He goes on speaking about divisions among our relationships.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” –  Matthew 10:34-36

This will be a confusing statement and a complicated issue for the people whom the god of this age has blinded. For the people who have an experience of salvation and assurance of forgiveness, it will give a different meaning. Yet, either of these groups may be tempted to say as Peter said, “Lord do you want to wash my feet?” say, “Lord do you want to create division in our families?” Jesus answered him,

“What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” –  John 13:7

To understand God’s crisp statements, we must grow in His love more and more day by day. Only the love we bestow on our Lord will break the barriers and we will be able to understand His love that flows from His heart and thereby His thoughts generated by that Divine love.

Jesus, the peace giver, had entered the house of Martha and Mary and there arose a difference of opinion among the two sisters. Is Jesus responsible for this division? These two sisters approached the teacher in a different way. Martha tried to please Jesus with her own ability but Mary depended on Jesus to learn how able He is. When we depend on our abilities the god of this age will blind our eyes to hide the presence of Jesus and magnify other trivial issues to torment our heart. Jesus redressed Martha’s grievance saying, Martha, one thing is needed. Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her. Jesus did not make Martha guilty of what she had done but at the same time taught her what was right in His sight. Jesus did not come to this world to fix us of our guilt but to save us from our sins. Presently, He is sitting at the right side of His father and advocating for us. If an advocate himself fixes his client as guilty then no one can save that client. If we keep this in mind we can understand his teaching techniques. Moreover, once you convict an individual of their guilt, then that individual will not be receptive to the correction method. That is why, Jesus takes the blame of creating commotion in our families on Himself, knowing very well that Satan is manipulating the emotions of humans to make divisions among them. Amidst this teaching, Jesus Himself brings out the truth for a moment.

“And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” – Matthew 10:36

What Jesus insists here is that in our families, all should be equally spending time in the presence of God to understand how able He is. Even if a single person of a family relies on their personal ability, then Satan will find a way to enter in. At the same time, one cannot expect the other members of the family to be equal in spiritual heights. Also one cannot save his family member’s soul with their effort because salvation belongs to the Lord.

“Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit.” –  Psalm 49:7-9

All members of a family should look to Jesus in whatever capacity they are able to. A person who has more grace to lean on Jesus for everything should accept that the other members of the family may lack many things. We have to correct ourselves instead of trying to correct others.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. – Galatians 5:6

If we live in spirit, our relationship to each other in our family will be routed through  Jesus Christ and in turn He will fill all lacuna in our relationship and the devil will not be able to find a footstool to create commotions through our emotions.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. – Galatians 5:25-26