The Lord Jesus Christ gives us these words to live by:
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:37-39)
There are three messages in the above passage that we must take note of.
First, we must put God first in our lives. God must be more important than family, friends, job, money, fame, power, possessions etc. If we put anything above God in our lives that is an idol and God hates idols. God continually reprimanded and punished Israel for serving idols as recorded in the Old Testament.
The second message is that we must take up our cross, not avoid it. Any difficulties or sufferings we have in our lives we must bear patiently without grumbling or complaining, but giving our sufferings to God and asking Him for His help at all times.
The third message is that we must be prepared at all times to give our life for God. We must not be afraid of witnessing for Christ and be persecuted. In fact, Jesus tells us that once we begin to follow Him, we will indeed be persecuted. This is something we must expect and be prepared for. For this reason we must live in constant prayer to God so that we can hear His voice guiding us and strengthening us on our journey.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Are you carrying heavy suffering in your life? Jesus is gentle and humble and will receive you if you cry out to Him. He is the most loving and gentle Friend you will ever have. So go to Jesus in your time of suffering and He will give you peace and heal your soul.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-8)
In the above passage, Jesus reminds us of the wonderful, all-encompassing love our Father in heaven has for us. Why do we doubt God’s love? It is because we do not yet understand how much He loves us! Our Father in heaven is ready to give us wonderful blessings, but we must ask! So Jesus reminds us to ask the Heavenly Father for our needs and He will provide. What a wonderful promise!
According to your faith will it be done for you. (Matthew 9:29)
We must ask God in faith, because we cannot please God without faith. So if you ask with complete faith in a Loving Father in heaven, it will be done for you!
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:26-28)
The last will be first and the first will be last. (Matthew 20:16)
In the above two passages, Jesus reminds us to always be humble and remember that we are servants first of God and then of each other. We are called to love God by loving our brothers and sisters and this takes humility and gentleness of heart because we all have frailties. But in our frailties, if we minister to each other we help each other carry our burdens and glorify God by showing love through our humility.
It is written: My house will be a house of prayer. (Matthew 21:13)
How important is prayer! Why is prayer so important? Because it is our communication with God. Because we cannot do anything of ourselves, we need God’s help at all times! Prayer is the key to hearing God’s voice and living our life according to God’s will.
May you heed these words of Jesus and live by them!
Amen.
Shalom.