““I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?” Luke 12:4, 8, 15, 31, 34, 40, 47, 51, 57 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.12.4-57.NIV

This chapter records a series of teachings from God in Jesus the Savior. We should listen carefully, for God is speaking to us. How is it we have so little regard for God coming to earth and telling us Who He is, what He wants from us, and what our future holds based on our response to Him? These commands of God can be summarized as making obedience to God our highest priority, realizing that living and teaching His ways will create conflict in our lives with those who reject God. His ways are not the world’s ways, pursuing treasure and pleasure instead of working diligently to live a holy life as God is holy while helping others to do the same so that when He appears, or we return to Him, we shall be welcomed by Him. Jesus loved the Father most, as demonstrated by obedience to His word and completion of His work. So, too, we are to love God most, even when our family rejects Him. We are to make His work, the reconciliation of the world to Jesus through the proclamation of the gospel, our work, even if it costs us promotions, customers, or persecution. We should expect these things, for they were the experience of Jesus as Man. He, too, was rejected by His family and His community. Our vocation is to be our funding and our ministry for our occupation, which is the building of God’s kingdom upon earth as it is in heaven if we are going to be good and faithful servants whom the Master finds faithful upon His return or our departure since we do not know the day or the hour of either. We are wise if we live because we understand that there is indeed a God, and He must be loved and served first and most by those who acknowledge Him.