Am I worthy of being Jesus’ disciple?

“If you love your father, mother, son, or daughter more than you love me, you are not worthy of being my disciple.  Unless you are willing to sacrifice your own life and do what I ask, you are not worthy of being my disciple.  If you try to save your life, you will lose it.  But if you lose your life for my sake, you will discover real life.”

Jesus was preparing His disciples.  He was going to send the Twelve out two by two to minister in the towns and villages.  His instructions were very specific.  His expectations were clear.  The commitment required was high.

I love my wife.  A lot!

I love my girls.  A lot!

I love my family, my parents, my in-laws, my siblings, my wife’s siblings…

Can I say I love Jesus more?  Can I say I love Jesus more than my own life?

I can say it, but mere words are empty, meaningless, if I don’t show it.

So how do I show I love Jesus more than my wife, children, family, even my own life?

The 5 Love Languages are a simple way to look at my love for Jesus.

1.  TIME – Do I make Jesus a priority in my day?  Do I spend time with Him?  Am I in the Word?

2.  TALK – Do I make prayer a priority in my day?  Do I talk with God, not just as a matter of routine, but as a matter of relationship?

3.  TOUCH – Do I make the Body of Christ, His church, a priority.  When I rub shoulders with other believers in fellowship and meet others’ needs, I demonstrate my love for Him.

4.  TREASURE – Do I demonstrate that Jesus is a priority in the way I share the talents and treasures God has given me?  Am I generous?  Do I view what I have as mine, or as God’s?

5.  SERVICE – Do I put others’ needs ahead of my own?  Am I selfless?  Whenever I “feed the hungry, clothe the naked, embrace the orphaned” I do that for Jesus and demonstrate my love for Him.

Jesus actually keeps it pretty simple.  I demonstrate my love for Him when I obey His commands and when I love others.

Every day.  Every single day.  I need to ask myself, to remind myself, what it means to love Jesus.

I want my heart to yearn for, to ache for His presence.

“As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God.”  Psalm 42:1-2

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God!”  Psalm 84:1-2

 

To learn more about Walking As Jesus Walked and Discipling As Jesus Discipled, visit:  SONLIFE.COM