Discipleship Is Loving God More
Photo by christy jacob on Unsplash.
What do you love the most? Can you tell what you love by looking at your calendar app, your bank statement, or by tracking your screen time on your iPhone?
What does it mean when Jesus said we are to hate our family and our own life if we are to follow him as his disciples?
In Luke’s gospel account, Jesus said to the crowds who were following him, “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. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:25-27, ESV).
Discipleship is loving Jesus more than everything and everyone else—including our selves. Discipleship is loving God more.
Jesus modeled this radical love of God, this redefining of priorities, and this redefinition of family, when his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. The people told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But Jesus answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:19-21, ESV).
Discipleship is loving God more. Discipleship reprioritizes what is most important in our lives and redefines how we see everyone and how we see everything, even our own family and even our own lives.
Those who hear the word of God and do it are true disciples of Jesus. These are the people who love God first and who love God more.
May we be true disciples of Jesus and love God more as we hear the word of God and do it in our lives.
A Collect for Strength to Await Christ’s Return: “O God our King, by the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life: Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears, make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the last great Day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
Begin the month with a #dailydevotional. I have created a #devotional book for each month, a devotional for every day of the year, and offering them for #free by subscribing. Get a link to #Grow365: #September2022—A #Daily Devotional here: www.robbiepruitt.com.
Photo by christy jacob on Unsplash.
