Pastor Barry's "Chapter & Verse" Day 270

Posted by Pastor Barry Fredericks on

Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 270

September 27;   Luke 14:26;   58/260(II);   ‘To Love Less’

Luke 14:26 "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.

The New Testament is written in Greek and sometimes when you read a verse, there could be a misunderstanding of what is being said.  Thank the Lord for Greek dictionaries and commentaries that give clarity as to what the Word of God is saying.  This verse is a perfect example.  The word ‘hate’ means to love less, it means relative preference for one thing over another.  In other words, the Lord Jesus is not teaching us to hate those closest to us or ourselves.  He is simply teaching priorities, that He must be first in order for our lives to be everything that we were created to be.  If Jesus is not the first priority in our life, we most likely will not be reading and doing what the Word says.  If we do not do what the Word says, our relationships and the life we live can never be what Jesus intended these important things to be.  Our Lord is not being egotistical or prideful when He tells us that He must be first.  Our lives were never intended to be lived independently of Him.  Our priorities were always to reflect Jesus Christ as first and foremost.  Remember Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1).  That means that the information we need to be successful in every aspect of our life, is contained in the Word of God.  By purposing in our heart to live, to the best of our ability, in line with the Word of God, this decision makes Jesus the first priority in our life.  The Word works.  Being a doer of the Word ensures a life that works.  Relationships will be strong by doing do them the Lord’s way.  You will prosper in every way, your life will be full.  Love everything else less than Jesus, it works.