
Mat 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
I will always find it amazing just how true Jesus s words are. I don't know why it is amazing after all Jesus is the Son of God, the one who knows what's in our hearts.
I have to ask myself why it is that our family, members of our own household, become our foes. You would think they would become our allies as the spirit of God works in our hearts to change us into people who love more, who are more patient, more giving, more like the Son of God.
It's just pure speculation on my part, but I suspect the reason is because it is Jesus doing this in us and not our love for them. They feel a betrayal of sorts. Or perhaps, it is because our growth causes a kind of fear that at some point we will no longer wish to be a part of them since they too are imperfect.
Then maybe, it's due to our growth making them feel less than or that we, with or without, words point to their own sins. I do not know, and doubt if I will ever know.
One other thought that has occurred to me is that our family holds a special place in our heart and because they do, God can use conflicts in our family to better train us and strip away the self centered attitudes we may yet hold.
One thing I do know that no matter how bad that conflict is we must never, never give up our faith in God. God may not resolve the conflict the way we want, after all He has to deal with free wills as much as we do and how yielded my and their will is to Him will make a difference.
There is one more possibility which I have considered and that is that Lucifer and his minions know our family is the quickest way to destroy our commitment to Jesus. I personally have turned this around on Lucifer, the more conflict there is in my home the more I turn to Christ. Christ has rewarded me with greater levels of peace in my heart and less need to "judge" my family for their behavior. They like myself have to write their own story.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.