Loving others less than your love for Christ.
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26 KJV
I have always found this verse interesting. It’s very blunt and to the point. Jesus, doesn’t mince any words when explaining how to be His disciple.
The word “hate” really stands out in this verse. “Hate” here is not what we think, it means to “love less.”
Christ was telling us that to be His disciple, we have to love our families and even ourselves less than we love Him.
One of the biggest hindrances to someone’s Christian growth is their family. Their family may not be fully on board with serving Christ and living a life guided by biblical principles. Their family may mock and ridicule them. Sometimes when this happens an individual will quit following Christ so that they continue to have that relationship with their family.
You can still love your father and your mother, but do you love Christ more?
How about your husband or your wife, even your kids? Is your love for them greater than your love for Christ?
Your siblings, your friends, those you know, do you love them more than Christ?
Love Christ more. It’s simple to say, hard to follow.
If you want to be a disciple of Christ, love Him more than those closest to you!
Counted Faithful 