Worthy Lovers!

Is what we love worthy of our love? Are we worthy of what we love? Do we love in a worthy manner? We need to have a love that is PROPERLY grounded. We also need to have a love that is PROPERLY directed. And we need a love that is PROPERLY extended.

Jesus exhorted…
“(37) Whoever loves father or mother more than me IS NOT WORTHY OF ME, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me IS NOT WORTHY OF ME. (38) And whoever does not take his cross and follow me IS NOT WORTHY OF ME.”
( Matthew 10:37-38 ESV)

As I read that passage this morning, the statement Jesus made three times really caught my attention: “…is not worthy of me.” Am I? Could I ever be? What would make it so?

To love anyone or anything more than Jesus will place us in a position of being unworthy of Him because with such misplaced affections He will not have His PROPER place in our life. Whatever or whomever we love most is going to have the greatest impact on our life choices. That is why we must begin with a love PROPERLY focused on Jesus. To love Him less than anyone or anything else would be to place Him below them. This would be for us to seemingly decide we are unworthy of or not in need of what He is able to provide.

In spite of our sins, Jesus saw us worthy of a love that compelled Him to endure the cross, providing the means of our redemption. And to give Jesus the first focus of our love is the first step in getting our life priorities right. Jesus did not say “don’t love” father, mother, son, daughter, or self. It is that He is to hold the supreme position in our affections. And by loving Him first and in a PROPER manner, should ultimately impact the way we love others.

Though we may PROPERLY view ourselves as not being worthy of Jesus’
great sacrificial love, we can still love in a worthy manner; loving Jesus above all, and loving others as selflessly as Jesus has loved us. The fact Jesus loved enough to give His life for us reveals that others are worthy of our love as well. And to love sincerely can be a very powerful force in our interaction with others.

May the magnanimous love of Jesus powerfully impact our life. Let us respond first to Him in love. Then may we love others with a Christ-like love. This is the PROPER approach to daily living.

Have a great day WITH APPROPRIATELY AIMED AFFECTIONS!
Carl

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