Day 4

Matthew 10-12

In chapter 10 we are presented with a few very difficult sayings that should have stirred you to know more. Jesus gave some radical ideas as He spoke to people. Today and throughout the past two centuries critics have used Jesus' radical statements against Him. I recently showed a video clip from youtube of Edward Tate ripping into Christianity for some of the statements that Jesus made in this reading today. Please look closely at the ideas Jesus presents without ignoring the difficult things He said. There are amazing truths revealed in them.
Jesus said this,

Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

First of all, consider the context of this statement. Jesus was giving instruction to His disciples on how they were to go from place to place preaching the gospel. He gave them specific instruction. If you are a person who hates to be given specific instruction by your parents or an employer, you probably won't like these instructions either.
Secondly, Jesus was sending His disciples out into the hostile audience of Jewish communities. They needed to be prepared for the worst. Their own families would reject them because of their message. Jesus was preparing them as this should prepare us as well today for the rejection we may face.
Lastly, Jesus was not asking His disciples to love their families any less than they already were loving them. He was commanding that their love for Him be paramount compared to all other relationships here on their journey through life. The disciples would be challenged as brothers or sisters turned violently against them for what they believed.
It's important to note that the end result of Jesus' preparation of His disciples was that they turned the world upside down. They were radically changed by Jesus' message and it radically changed immeasurable millions and still growing today! Jesus' way is always best. I challenge you today to look closer to what you read without overlooking these hard statements by Jesus. Truly there are important messages in them. Also, is your love for Christ comparatively paramount to all your other relationships?