Being His!

Relationships can create challenges. They can also be a wonderful source of comfort and strength. Learning to properly love is emphasized throughout the Scriptures and is intended to enhance all relationships. Jesus even noted how loving God and loving one’s brother were foundational principles of the Law. ( Matthew 22:37-40) He also taught that enemies were to be loved ( Matthew 5:44) and parents were to be honored. ( Matthew 19:19)

However, note what Jesus also pointed out to crowds who were following Him.
“(25) Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, (26) ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.” ( Luke 14:25-26 ESV)

Do we find that to be radical teaching? Does it strike us as being very challenging to our way of thinking? Hate? Where’s the love?

Sometimes it takes a radical statement to get our attention so that we can gain a proper perspective. The perspective we need to understand is that we are to LOVE OTHERS LESS so that we can LOVE JESUS MORE! Jesus’ words mark the magnitude of the SUPREME POSITION Jesus is to have in connection with our life. The real challenge is how easy it is to allow other things or relationships to come between us and our discipleship to Jesus.

Just as under the old law it was to be acknowledged that there was no other god before ( Exodus 20:3) or beside ( Deuteronomy 32:39) God, so in our relationship with Christ He is to be PREEMINENTLY SUPREME ABOVE ALL! Without a doubt, following Jesus is to be taken seriously. However, to love Jesus SUPREMELY will actually aid us in loving others in the manner He desires. In the process of following His example and teaching we will earn to love as He loves. Therefore, to begin with focusing our greatest love toward Jesus we will ultimately bring balance to the manner in which we approach all other relationships. May He be wholly our Sovereign Lord so that we may be wholly His.

Have a great day ALLOWING JESUS TO HAVE HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE IN OUR LIFE!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Relationships