Monday's Devotional

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

~Matthew 10:37 (NKJV)

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Sadly, this verse is commonly misunderstood and is often not explained accurately. In it, Jesus is not saying that children aren't to obey(as long as their parents' commands don't go against the Lord's) or honor their parents anymore. This verse is also not saying that parents aren't still commanded to love and to train their children up in the nuture and admonition of the Lord. Jesus is also not lessening any the importance of the unified family unit and structure. The family has always been and will always be extremely important to the Lord. So, what is this verse actually saying?

It's saying that we have to always be willing to, out of love for Him, follow God and obey His commands no matter what. No matter what the cost may be (may it be persecution, trials, tribulations, etc.), no matter what our parents are telling us to do, no matter what any of our family members think we should be doing, we are called on to obey God and to live out His commands daily. If we truly love Him, then we will joyfully obey His Word. As Christians, that's our duty. This verse is saying that as Christians, if we truly love Him wholeheartedly, then we must obey Him despite what our family may want us to do. If we truly love Him, we can't worry or dwell on what our family may think of us or what they may do to us. Rather, we must obey and trust Christ; and leave the outcome and result up to Him.

I'm sure you have family members(as I definitely do!) that are completely against your Biblical convictions, and think you're crazy. But in those times, though it may be hard, we must obey and trust Him alone. I know it's hard, but it's what we're called on to do and it's so worth it. The Lord has promised to never leave us nor forsake us and He will bless us with the strength needed to sustain every trial and persecution received from our family members who aren't like-minded.

This verse is also showing us the vast importance of keeping the Lord first in our lives and hearts. He must always be first. No one should ever be able to take His place as number 1 in our hearts. We must love Him above all else. Exodus 20:5 says, "You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." The Lord is a very jealous God! It angers Him greatly(as it should) when we place other above Him in our hearts. When we make those other people or things into idols, that is an abomination to Him. Every time someone or something takes His place as number 1 in our lives, we are making that person into an idol; and God very clearly says that we are to not have any gods other than Him. He deserves our entire heart, love, life and service, and that's what we must give to Him, as the Lord of our lives and the lover of our souls!

I want to leave you with these beautiful and encouraging words from the wonderful hymn, Trust and Obey:

When we walk with the Lord

In the power of His Word

What a glory He sheds on our way!

Let us do His good will;

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!

Not a burden we bear,

Not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay!

Not a grief or a loss,

Not a frown or a cross,

But is blest if we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a shadow can rise,
not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove

The delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows

And the joy He bestows

Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in the fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet

Or we'll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do,

Where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain