Family Of God

Matthew 10:34-38-“Do not think that 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’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 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. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me

Luke 14:25-33-Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

We have watered these verses down so much!

I know the acceptable understanding of these verses is…That our love for God would be so much that all our other loves would seem like hatred!

There should be a radically difference in our love for God and our love for others!

I believe the best way I can love my wife, my children is to love my God first and that means putting Him first!!!

Mark 10:28-Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

Matthew 19:27-Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

Peter was asking what is the pay off, what do we get for following you?

Now we just read that Jesus said to count the cost, that it cost something to follow Him!

Peter sure made it sound like he had given up a lot and I am sure that the way we sound too, forgetting all the things God has already given to us in this life!

Preacher asked, “Joe, would you give God a million dollars?”

Joe said, “Pastor, you know I would if I had it!”

Preacher asked, “Joe, would you give God a half million dollars?”

Joe replied, “Pastor, you know I would if I had it!”

Preacher asked, “Joe would you give God two cows?”

Joe replied, “Pastor, quit it, you know I have two cows!”

Sometimes our sacrifices are actual (The rich young ruler) (missionaries) (Lost friends and family because we are Christians)

The preacher asked the new Christian, “How is your friends taking the news that you have become a Christian?”

The young man told the preacher, “I don’t want walk away from friends just because I am a Christian.”

The preacher replied, “Son, If live your life for Christ, your friends will probably walk away from you!”

Sometimes our sacrifices are a attitude…1 Cor. 7:29-30-But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

It is not saying we have give up our spouse or our wealth but having the attitude or As Though We Did!

Mark 10:29-30-So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

Now In This Time-Not just the pie in sky but in the here and now!

We receive a new family….The family of God! I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God. I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod; For I’m part of the family of God, the family of God!