May 25 Highest Love

Luke 14:25-27 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters –  yes, even his own life –  he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
 
HOW deeply do you love Jesus? After all, discipleship is costly, and Jesus wants to know if your love for him is enough to pay the price. Peter was astounded and even frustrated at the cost one day when he said to Jesus in Matthew 19:27 “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
    Yes, Jesus does require you to leave everything to make him your everything. “Hate” here is not an emotion against your family. This is Jesus’ radical word to awaken your faith to love your Lord above all.
    We should not be surprised or shocked at Jesus’ “love hierarchy”. After all, God commands our highest love in Exodus 20:3-4 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” It’s true, family members are not idols or gods, but we can be tempted to put family wants before God’s will. People I know have been turned from God’s clear call to ministry because a parent said, “Don’t go. That’s not for you. I’m afraid for you. I don’t think it’s right for you.” Some have rejected God’s love when family members opposed to their faith to pull them from church and discipleship. In contrast, many faithful witnesses have expressed their compelling love for Jesus even as siblings or parents were opposed to their faith.
    Yes, we are to honor and obey our parents, submit to spouses and love our children. But all this earthly love can be complete only when our love is grounded in your heavenly Father. When God is not your first love, your relationship with family will be less than your Lord desires. Moses described this “Love God, Love Family” process in Deuteronomy 6:4-6 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 
    Speak love to God. Teach God’s love to your family. Live God’s love in your life. God’s love will transcend into your heart, into your household and into all who even oppose you.
 
Prayer: I love you, Father, Son and Spirit. Teach me how to love my family, so they will love you, too. Amen.