Post by Cindy on Jan 14, 2022 12:41:02 GMT -5
I've been seeing more and more of something that makes me so very sad. People that I thought were Christians, have put their child, children or spouse before Jesus. When I ask them about it, they invariably break down into tears and say it's because they don't want to "lose" that child or spouse. They say that if they continue to put Jesus first in their life, they'll never see that child or spouse again. My heart breaks for their pain, but it also breaks because of what they're doing to Jesus and to themselves without even realizing it.
For one thing, they've forgotten that Jesus was and is very much aware that things like this would happen. That's why He said: ““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.” (Luke 14:26) Because Jesus has commanded us to love and honor our parents and to love everyone, He can't be telling us to really actually hate anyone here. Instead He's simply saying that He should be so very important to us and that we should love Him so much, that other people don't come anywhere near the love we have for Him. That way He will always be first in our lives.
But when we break that commandment, we make the person we do it for an idol and that makes us an idolater, which is a very serious sin. Jesus further warns us about this here: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24–26) In the above scenario, we're talking about a parent not obeying Jesus in order to "keep" their child, parent or spouse from leaving them (either physically or emotionally or both). If we are in the habit of truly making Jesus and the Father first in our life, we won't do that. Because in order to make Him first, we must "deny our self" and live for Him as He commands us to do. So the second we start living for what we want, instead of what Jesus wants, we are putting our self before God and saying along with the world that "we're number 1" which is being self centered and selfish, both of which are sins.
But let's look closer at what may happen. The people who do this are afraid of losing someone they love, and they believe that if they follow Jesus, they will lose them. However they aren't thinking long term. If they had a choice between having that person in their life now, in this world, or could have them for all of eternity, which would most choose? I'd choose eternity for sure, for two reasons. First it's a whole lot longer then this life, and second, I most certainly do not want any of my loved ones to go to hell, whether they believe in it or not! Therefore I will always press home to them the importance of obeying Jesus and not their own desires, unless those desires coincide with our Lord's.
Please also notice that it's only their fear talking that says they believe they'll lose that person if they continue to obey Christ. They're afraid of how that person will react and assume that's what will happen. Maybe the person has even said something like that to them. But they're forgetting something very important. Their loved one isn't the one that's in control, and neither are they. Only the Lord Jesus is in control. They're fighting against God, not the loved one they're concerned with. And again, that's a sin. God is sovereign. What He says goes. There's a very real possibility that what they fear won't happen, if they keep their trust in God, and keep Him first in their life. Remember, we are to live by faith, not by sight, and not by our feelings, especially not by our fears!
For one thing, they've forgotten that Jesus was and is very much aware that things like this would happen. That's why He said: ““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.” (Luke 14:26) Because Jesus has commanded us to love and honor our parents and to love everyone, He can't be telling us to really actually hate anyone here. Instead He's simply saying that He should be so very important to us and that we should love Him so much, that other people don't come anywhere near the love we have for Him. That way He will always be first in our lives.
But when we break that commandment, we make the person we do it for an idol and that makes us an idolater, which is a very serious sin. Jesus further warns us about this here: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24–26) In the above scenario, we're talking about a parent not obeying Jesus in order to "keep" their child, parent or spouse from leaving them (either physically or emotionally or both). If we are in the habit of truly making Jesus and the Father first in our life, we won't do that. Because in order to make Him first, we must "deny our self" and live for Him as He commands us to do. So the second we start living for what we want, instead of what Jesus wants, we are putting our self before God and saying along with the world that "we're number 1" which is being self centered and selfish, both of which are sins.
But let's look closer at what may happen. The people who do this are afraid of losing someone they love, and they believe that if they follow Jesus, they will lose them. However they aren't thinking long term. If they had a choice between having that person in their life now, in this world, or could have them for all of eternity, which would most choose? I'd choose eternity for sure, for two reasons. First it's a whole lot longer then this life, and second, I most certainly do not want any of my loved ones to go to hell, whether they believe in it or not! Therefore I will always press home to them the importance of obeying Jesus and not their own desires, unless those desires coincide with our Lord's.
Please also notice that it's only their fear talking that says they believe they'll lose that person if they continue to obey Christ. They're afraid of how that person will react and assume that's what will happen. Maybe the person has even said something like that to them. But they're forgetting something very important. Their loved one isn't the one that's in control, and neither are they. Only the Lord Jesus is in control. They're fighting against God, not the loved one they're concerned with. And again, that's a sin. God is sovereign. What He says goes. There's a very real possibility that what they fear won't happen, if they keep their trust in God, and keep Him first in their life. Remember, we are to live by faith, not by sight, and not by our feelings, especially not by our fears!
!!
