In Luke 12:49–53, Jesus says he came not to bring peace but division, reminding us that following him always requires a choice—and real choices have consequences. While in some parts of the world faith can cost family or even life, here it often costs very little, which can make it easy to take for granted. But true discipleship should change how we live, shaping our priorities, relationships, and decisions. Our lives ought to look so different that others notice and ask why, giving us the chance to say, “Because of Jesus.” The challenge is simple but serious: What does following Jesus actually cost me, and am I willing to follow wherever he leads?

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Well, good morning. It’s good to be with you on this Monday morning. Good to be back at Rooted. We took a little time off last week—fall break at St. Matthew’s and all around the Madison area—so I thought I’d take a break, too. Wasn’t all that restful, honestly, had a lot going on. But hey, they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? So we’re back at it today.

We’re in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 12, verses 49–53. This is one of those passages that sounds a little different from what we might expect from Jesus. Let’s read:

“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:49–53, NRSV)

Now that’s not exactly the “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” we usually picture, is it? Normally we think of Jesus bringing peace—healing the broken, comforting the hurting, restoring lives. Yet here he says, “Don’t think I came to bring peace. I came to bring division.” That feels hard to reconcile, especially when we remember the Sermon on the Mount: love your enemies, forgive those who persecute you.

So what do we do with this?

I think the heart of it is this: Jesus calls us to make a choice. To follow him or not. And following him always comes with consequences. Think about Joshua saying, “Choose this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Or Jesus with the rich young ruler—sell everything, give to the poor, then follow me. Jesus is constantly asking for a decision.

Now, in our part of the world—here in the South, in the Bible Belt—it doesn’t usually cost much to say, “I’m a Christian.” Most people expect it. But in other places—Nigeria, China, Iran, parts of India—choosing Jesus can literally cost you your life. I’ve heard stories of families holding funerals when someone converts, saying, “You’re dead to us now.” That’s the division Jesus is talking about.

And here’s the thing—we may call it a blessing that our faith doesn’t cost us much, but maybe it’s not. Because when faith doesn’t cost anything, it’s easy to take it for granted. It doesn’t affect our time, our money, our schedules. We squeeze Jesus into the leftover spaces of life. And then we wonder why our faith feels powerless.

One of my favorite verses is 1 Peter 3:15: “Always be ready to give a defense for the hope that is within you.” Our lives ought to be so different that people look at us and say, “What’s wrong with you? Why do you live that way? Why do you forgive like that? Why do you serve like that?” And then we get to answer, “It’s Jesus. Jesus is what’s wrong with me.”

Following Jesus should change things. It should cost something. And if it doesn’t change how we live—if it doesn’t affect our decisions, our priorities, our relationships—then we’ve got to stop and ask: am I really following him?

So as we start this new week together, let’s wrestle with that question: What does following Jesus actually cost me? And am I willing to follow him wherever he leads?

Alright friends, thanks for being with me today. Have a great Monday, and I’ll see you in the morning.