Christ Above All
Luke 14:26
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Thought:
Jesus is not telling us to sinfully hate our family. The Bible clearly calls us to love and care for them. Instead, Jesus is using a strong word to show how great our love for Him must be. Our love for Christ should be so deep and so strong that every other love looks small beside it.
In the parable of the great supper, people made excuses to stay away. One chose his land, one chose his work, and one chose his family. None of these things was evil, but they became more important than obeying the call of God. Jesus is showing us that people do not refuse Him simply because they are busy. They refuse Him because something else has first place in their hearts.
True discipleship means this: Christ is not just first on a list. He is above the list. Family, job, dreams, and even our own lives must be under Him. When there is a choice between pleasing Jesus and pleasing others or even pleasing ourselves, the disciple chooses Jesus.
Prayer:
Father, in Jesus name, I ask You to search my heart. Show me any person, dream, or desire that I have placed above Your Son. I confess that Jesus must be above all in my life. Help me to love my family and friends deeply, but to love Christ more than anyone and anything. Give me the courage to choose Jesus even when it costs me relationships or comfort. I surrender my heart, and I say, Lord Jesus, You are above all in my life. Amen.
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Thought:
Jesus is not telling us to sinfully hate our family. The Bible clearly calls us to love and care for them. Instead, Jesus is using a strong word to show how great our love for Him must be. Our love for Christ should be so deep and so strong that every other love looks small beside it.
In the parable of the great supper, people made excuses to stay away. One chose his land, one chose his work, and one chose his family. None of these things was evil, but they became more important than obeying the call of God. Jesus is showing us that people do not refuse Him simply because they are busy. They refuse Him because something else has first place in their hearts.
True discipleship means this: Christ is not just first on a list. He is above the list. Family, job, dreams, and even our own lives must be under Him. When there is a choice between pleasing Jesus and pleasing others or even pleasing ourselves, the disciple chooses Jesus.
Prayer:
Father, in Jesus name, I ask You to search my heart. Show me any person, dream, or desire that I have placed above Your Son. I confess that Jesus must be above all in my life. Help me to love my family and friends deeply, but to love Christ more than anyone and anything. Give me the courage to choose Jesus even when it costs me relationships or comfort. I surrender my heart, and I say, Lord Jesus, You are above all in my life. Amen.
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