Half Time Pep Talk?

Romans 6:19-23

Brothers and sisters:
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your nature.
For just as you presented the parts of your bodies as slaves to impurity
and to lawlessness for lawlessness,
so now present them as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.
But what profit did you get then
from the things of which you are now ashamed? 
For the end of those things is death.
But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God,
the benefit that you have leads to sanctification,
and its end is eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I read these lines and my hearts swells. I don't know what you rake is but I see compassion on full display. I won't lie, in this world that we live in today it's hard to stay on the straight and narrow. Reading these lines is like hearing a great pep talk from the coach at half-time, "Don't give up! Not now, not ever! Winning is at hand! Do not falter." But that's it isn't it, its all in how you read it. 

Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples:
"I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father, 
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

Similarly you could read this excerpt and think, "Wow Jesus is mean. He wants to set the whole thing ablaze. I actually appreciate these lines because they forewarn Christians that they will not have all sunny days and rainbows following him. If Christians didn't find division between loved ones following his ways then, well, they probably wouldn't be doing anything worth while. Jesus wants to save you from a world saturated in sin and Satan wants to damn your soul. If Satan didn't have a problem with you following Jesus it would be because you are still living a life a sin with no chance of changing where in which he would still get to see you damned in hell, food for thought. With this rallying cry Jesus is saying, "Don't worry. I knew this would happen. Stay the course. You were made for righteousness and I long to be with you in heaven. Do not fear."

Jesus, 

Thank you for all you do. Thank you for your sacrifice. When I take the time to actually imagine what you went through tears stream from my eyes. Thank you and I love you. Don't give up on me even when I give up on you and sin. Please forgive me. I need you and I want you in my life always. Help me to come through the fire purified ready for heaven. 

In Jesus Christ's name I pray,

Amen