December 28, Evening
C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling
"I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword." — Matthew 10:34 · KJV
The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his aims to make none; but if doing the right and believing the true should cost him every earthly friend, he will count it but a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be all the more friendly, and reveal Himself to him more graciously than ever. O you who have taken up His cross, do you not know what your Master said? "I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, He brings war. Where the light comes, the darkness must retire; where truth is, the lie must flee; or if it stays, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden underfoot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend on it, the world will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their sins. Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion to pursue, without hesitation, a course that will turn your best friend into your fiercest foe; but for the love of Jesus you must be thus courageous. To hazard reputation and affection for the truth's sake is such a deed that, to do it consistently, you will need a degree of moral principle which only the Spirit of God can work in you; yet do not turn your back like a coward, but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master's steps, for He has traveled this rough way before you. Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than a false peace and everlasting torment.