Being Worthy Disciples Of Christ – Part I

-October 14, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

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

(Matthew 10:37).

As disciples of Christ we must put Him first in everything, especially in our relationships with our earthly families. In the preceding verses, Jesus said, “Do not think I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, a man’s enemies will be those of his own household” (Matthew 10:34-36).

Jesus drew a line in the sand. Each person in every family must choose to accept Him or reject Him. Often families are divided; believers in Christ must stand for Him even when it is not popular especially among our earthly relatives.

First we must remember we are never worthy of salvation, but we must be worthy of Christ in our walk with Him. Being worthy of Christ means pleasing Him in every way, especially among our families. Often we endure more persecution from unsaved family members than from other people in the world.

This was true even in Jesus’ family. In the beginning even his earthly half-brothers did not believe in Him. John 7:5 clearly says, “Even His brothers did not believe in Him.” Later James and Jude both believed, served the Lord faithfully, and wrote an epistle in NT. Only Christ can transform lives.

We must be careful not to allow any earthly relationship to supersede or interfere with our relationship to Christ. We should love our families, pray for them, and be a witness and testimony to them.

Bill MacDonald commented, “No ties of nature can be allowed to deflect a disciple from utter allegiance to the Lord. The Savior must take precedence over father, mother, son or daughter. One of the costs of discipleship is to experience tension, strife, and alienation from one’s own family. This hostility is often more bitter than is encountered in other areas of life.”

Have a blessed day loving the Lord with all your heart and putting Him first before family or anyone else. Stay safe and healthy.

We love our families and long to see them saved, but we must love Jesus more than anyone or anything.

Dean