Will You Still Follow Jesus Even If Doing So Costs You Some Relationships? Are You Willing to Pay th

Good Morning My Loves,

I think we can all agree that falling in love with Jesus is the “best” thing we’ve ever done. However, serving Jesus with a sold out heart doesn’t always mean that those around us will feel the same way. There’s times when we feel that the “best” decision we ever made, brings about the “worst” circumstances. For example, when our family members and closest friends begin to turn against us. This is very hurtful, but Jesus was clear that this would sometimes happen. 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief]. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his [own] household [when one believes and another does not].

37 “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. 38 And he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me. 39 Whoever finds his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity]. (Matthew 10:34-39 AMP) My beloved, there is a high price to pay to be a true follower of Jesus, but there is also great reward! Let me be clear, we are not paying for our own salvation, He’s already done that for us. However, Jesus spoke openly about the price of lost relationships. He knew that there would be those who would not believe in Him. He didn’t promise us that it would be easy. He told us that there will be a defining moment in our life when we must choose Him over every other voice and relationship. As I read the above passage, the two phrases that stuck out to me were “loves _________MORE THAN ME,” and “IS NOT WORTHY OF ME.” It’s interesting that Jesus speaks of the closest and most significant relationships in our life: father, mother, son, daughter. It’s a difficult thing to hold onto our faith in Christ when a family member is a professing atheist, new-ager, agnostic, or worshiper of another god. It’s difficult to maintain a strong commitment to Christ when our family becomes hostile toward us because of our faith. Jesus instructed us to be kind to them, but to be loyal to Him. He described this scenario as “our cross to bear.” He said if we aren’t willing to experience this kind of rejection and hardship and still be true to Him, that we are not worthy of Him. If you are in this situation, and you are clinging to Jesus, He wants you to know that your willingness to bear your cross and follow Him will not be without great reward. 29 Jesus said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there is no one who has given up a house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30 who will not receive A HUNDRED TIMES AS MUCH NOW in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms—along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30 AMP) I pray that each of us would have a tenacious resolve to follow Jesus regardless of the price, and that even if relationships fail because of our faith in Christ, that our faith would fail not! I pray that each of us would be found worthy of Him. I love you all! PV