Matt. 10:34-39 – Top Priority and Love

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

How much do you love the Lord?

Today’s devotional reading: Matthew 10:34-39

What is the great commandment? A lawyer once asked Jesus this question. Jesus responded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment (Matt. 22:36-38).”

Now, many of us have heard and know that we are to love the Lord wholeheartedly, but the question we must answer daily is whether or not we do it. To love God wholeheartedly means that you must put God first in your life, which is to say that you should love God and His way over all things. Yet, loving God over all things is where great struggle comes from.

Jesus taught that one who loves their parents or their children more than Him is not worthy of Him. Many Christians often disregard this teaching or “forget about it”, but the Lord hasn’t forgotten. Christians must be willing to forsake all things for the Lord, which includes worldly possessions and even loved ones. Just ask the apostles: as they all left behind their jobs (as fishermen or a tax collector), family, and other loved ones when Christ called on them to follow Him.

Do you believe Christ is worth giving up such things? Let’s keep in mind that earthly treasures are going to pass away. Let’s also keep in mind that not all loved ones are there for support, but rather can play the role of hindrances. Learning the way of Christ and following Him should certainly be the top priority for anyone who desires to inherit the kingdom of heaven.

If you desire the kingdom, you must consider today whether or not you have forsaken all things to follow Christ; then you must put forth the work of forsaking all things to follow Him. We must not be like Iscariot, who betrayed Christ because he couldn’t let go of earthly riches.