Theme: THE LOVE OF GOD
Text: “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” – Matthew 10:37-39.
Comment: No true disciple should allow his love for anyone else outgrow his love for Christ. If he does, he will lose his salvation because he will do things to please men or any institution that is his object of love – to the displeasure of Jesus Christ. Our Redeemer snubbed the request of his mother and brethren to leave the preaching he was doing to attend to them, saying: “…Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50) When the Israelites had to fight to put down the uprising of Absalom, David was found to be crying over the death of his son, giving the impression that the king valued the life of his son more than the rest of the people. He had to be corrected sharply by Joab, the commander of the army. (2 Samuel 18:30-33; 19:1-8) Also, among the things that King Asa did (while he was still faithful) for which he was commended, was that he cleansed the land of sodomites, (homosexuals) and idol worship. He even removed his mother from being queen and destroyed her idol publicly. (1 Kings 15:11-13) Saints Peter and John told the Jewish council in those days: “…Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” – Acts 4:19, 20.