"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." - Luke 14:25-27
Salvation can bring separation. When Jesus was saying that your love for your family must look like hate compared to your love for Him - that is a hard thing to imagine. I have written about this before. Matthew 22 says we are to love God first. Exodus 20 says we are to have no other gods (people or things) before Him. God demands to be first. But that is really not what this BLOG post is about. It is about rejection. Being rejected by your family or friends because of your faith. It is about being put in a position where you are challenged to choose. Faced with a choice of acceptance by God or acceptance by people you care about.
Some of you reading this know what it is like to be distanced from your family because of your new life in Christ. Held at arm's length. Being sent out to the other side of a glass wall. Tolerated perhaps but not embraced. Almost as if you were dead or a stranger - not part of the group anymore. Such a weight to carry. Jesus minded us that -
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." - John 15:18-20
That doesn't mean your heart won't hurt. That the thought of the loss won't make your heart weary. But you see, it is not really you that they have put on the other side of that glass wall. It is Jesus that they want no part of, and you remind them of Jesus and more than that, of their sin. So why would they want you around. They do make you an unspoken offer - reject God - be like us and you will be embraced once again. Resist the temptation.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:28-31
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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