PRIORITIZING OUR LOVE FOR GOD

One of the most difficult choices we face in our relationship with God is choosing between our Lord Jesus and those we love. Jesus said, "If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26)." Jesus used the strong word "hate" in the above verse to emphasize the priority of our love. During the time of Jesus, when people were not loyal to their families, others would think that they hated their families. Jewish culture flourishes through the strong bonds of family, as their identity and sense of security are rooted in family relationships. However, Jesus was telling the people that if they wanted to be His disciples, they must prioritize their love for Him more than their families. It was very difficult for the Jewish people to do what Jesus was telling them because it would result in dividing their families. However, Jesus said these words, "Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household (Matthew 10:34-36)!" 

Following Jesus as our Lord and Savior means prioritizing our love for Him over our families and ourselves. We must be ready to accept the consequences of following our Lord Jesus. If it means being rejected by our families, so be it. There are many Christians all over the world who choose to follow Jesus, and their families completely reject them. Some families even treated them as dead. We have to be willing to lose everything to follow our Lord Jesus, and this is not an option, but it is a requirement to be God's disciples. Our salvation is free, but it will cost us everything to follow our Lord Jesus. If we are not willing to prioritize our love for our God, we will never be saved. Our faith in Jesus requires us to prioritize our lives for Him over our families and ourselves. It is very difficult or impossible for some to prioritize their love for God over their families because of their deep love for their families; however, when they put their faith in Jesus, He is going to help them to prioritize their love for him over their families and themselves. 

We can prioritize our love for our Lord Jesus above our love for our families and ourselves, for God will help and support us if we are willing to do so. Loving God more than our families does not mean that we will stop loving our families; it simply means that our love for God takes precedence.

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Do I love God more than my family? What does it mean to really believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior? What lesson is God teaching me through today's devotion? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, today's devotion is very challenging, but I can do it through your power and strength. Please help me prioritize my love for you over my family and myself. Please give me the courage to follow you and help me not be afraid because you are going to take care of me, and you will be my ultimate provider and security. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.