Being Worthy of Jesus AND Honouring our Parents

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me…” (Matthew 10:37 NKJV)

    Continuing our thoughts from last week, we need to understand that Jesus’ words were never for the purpose of tearing families apart, His teaching is quite the opposite, even reiterating the commandment to ‘honour your father and mother’ (Matthew 15:4).

    So, how do we reconcile this statement, so that we can be worthy of Jesus?

    Jesus knew that His teaching and preaching of the kingdom of God would divide families. He knew that people would need to make a choice to keep doing what they have always known or to trust Him, believe Him as the Son of God and begin to follow His way.

    The same is true for us today.

    No matter what we have been raised to believe (or not believe), if we hear the truth of God’s word (Romans 10:17) found only in the bible, we will need to make the choice to either stay with what we have known or to leave that behind and put our whole effort into following Jesus. This may require us doing what is different from our parents, but it’s a choice that needs to be made.

    Jesus said if you choose to follow Me, you are worthy of Me. If you choose to follow what you’ve always known, you’re not worthy of Me.

    So how do we honour our father and mother when we have to follow a different path from them?

    Love and honour your parents enough to share the good news of Jesus with them! Be an example to them (Romans 12:1-2), take opportunities to tell them of the Truth found in God's word. Invite them to church services, to bible studies; show them God's pathway. Just as you had a choice to make, they will too. It may not be comfortable at times but keep loving them, keep trying to guide them to the Light with kindness, patience, and prayer. 

    For those who have been “raised in the church”, whose parents have followed Jesus’ teaching from its pure source, the Bible, it is our responsibility to make our faith our own – to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:2:12). We need to not rely on our parent’s faith, nor their reputation of faith, but to study and build up our own solid faith.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV)

    No matter our background, if we have heard God’s word, we have a choice to make: Stay with what we have always known OR love Jesus enough to wholly follow Him. Oftentimes, it comes down to convenience or conviction and Jesus wants us to be convicted that He is the Son of God and that He truly does have the words of eternal life (John 6:68-69)!

       Are you making the choice of convenience or are you willing to choose a live of faithful conviction? Jesus desires you to be worthy of Him, please do what is necessary to choose Jesus! It is worth every sacrifice and every effort (Matthew 19:29)!!

Let today be the day!!