St. Michael's Lutheran Church, School, & Childcare Richville, MI
  • Church
    • Church Staff
    • KIDZ Ministry
    • Bulletin/Newsletter/Calender
    • Sermon 2022 C >
      • Sermon 2021 B
      • Sermon 2020 A
    • Youth
    • Outreach >
      • Hmong Ministry
    • Stewardship
    • VBS
    • Confirmation
    • Passion Drama
    • Endowment >
      • Grant Application
    • Thrivent Choice
    • Electronic Giving
    • Crossroads Counseling
  • School
    • School Staff
    • Quality Christian Program
    • Admissions Infomation >
      • Application Form/Enrollment Form
    • SCRIP
    • Athletics
    • PTL (Parent Teacher League)
    • Media Center
    • Bulletin Board/News
    • Links
  • Child Care/Preschool
    • About US
    • Child Care and Preschool Staff
    • Child Care Enrollment Information
    • Preschool Enrollment Information
  • Music
    • Church Music Ministry
    • School Music Ministry >
      • Instrumental Music
      • Choral Music
      • General Music Education
    • Music Events (Church & School)
  • Auxiliary
    • Lutheran Laymen League >
      • Men's Club Activities
    • Mary Martha Guild
  • Contact
  • Pastor Blog
  • Calendar

No Divided Loyalties

10/4/2021

0 Comments

 
25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:25-27 NLT)

Jesus is not telling us to hate our family members, other people or ourselves. He is telling us that He has to have the top place in our lives. We cannot have divided loyalties. We can't follow Jesus and walk a different path with a family member who would lead us away from the Lord. We can live in a way that leads our family members and friends to see Christ in us. Jesus tells us to love one another, even our enemies. Our love for others grows out of God's love for us. 

(Jesus spoke Hebrew or Aramaic. There is no comparative in this language. Instead of saying something is holy, holier or holiest, the Hebrew language says, God is Holy, Holy, Holy. The NLT picks up this difference by saying "by comparison." There should be a noticeable difference between our love for God and for others people. God first, then people. The other way does not work.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    My name is Larry. Right now I am serving as the Intentional Interim or Transitional Pastor at St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Richville, MI. This blog is part of my daily personal time reading the Bible and talking with God. It is more of my personal thoughts than a deep theological discussion. Thanks for taking the time to join me in reading and thinking about what God has to say to us today.

    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed