Do you love me more than these?

01/31/10 NCCN 11:00, Matt. 10: 37-42

God speaks to us: Do you love me more than these?

Intro: Jesus words are in the context of sending out his 12 disciples but here in Matt 10 he is sending them to the Israelites. He tells them to be on guard because there will be suffering and discord. He says to them; don’t think I have come for peace because I will turn families against each other. So Jesus’ discourse about family is in the context of believers and unbelievers in the same family. Jesus asks Peter this question when he was reinstated after denying Jesus and this morning Jesus asks us that question as well: Do you love me more than these? More than what? For Peter; his occupation, his fellow disciples, his family? Put in there whatever it is you love most. What do you love most? Jesus says do you love me more than that? That is what this is all about, but we should not think that loving Jesus is at the expense of family. I mean immediate family and only those who believe. Non-believers whether family or not, will always oppose us as believers.

I. Not worthy of Jesus, v. 37

A. Father and mother.

So Jesus says to us: if you love your father and mother more than me you are not worthy of me. You are not worthy of following me. It does not mean that you do not love your parents but you do not allow them to stop your service to God. Example: Gremar’s mother wanted her to be around and if you could look in her heart she would try to stop here from going to Africa. She did not because she was a believer but if she was not a believer she would try to stop her.

B. Sons and daughters.

1. But Jesus becomes more intimate than parents, he includes children. If you love them more than me, Jesus says you are not worthy. Personally, I don’t think God expects service at the expense of our children and spouses.

2. What he expects is that we serve as families. Our families thought we were crazy taken Steve to Nigeria at six months of age. We may even have siblings who think we waste our time at church and are irresponsible giving to the church. We can’t listen to that kind of talk. We must do our service as families. As missionaries and as a pastor we have always done ministry as a family, our kids knew why we did what we did they helped us do it.

Jesus also says…..

II. Take up your cross and follow me. v. 38

A. What does that mean really?

Crosses stand for suffering. This weeks study at family night showed us 5 different kinds of crosses but all of them entail horrible suffering. Jesus is saying; don’t quit following me when it becomes hard, when it starts to hurt us, or starts to cost us. Be willing to suffer if necessary.

B. Take up your cross

So whatever situation confronts, you do not have an option but to do what you are capable of doing. Not more but not less than you are able.

C. Follow me!

But it is not only worship and doing things to help others, it is following Jesus. That means we do what He did, we give of ourselves as Jesus gave of Himself. Pick up your cross and follow me. Do what I would do and do not count the cost Jesus says.

III. Finding and losing your life. v 39

A. He who finds his life

If you are always thinking about yourself, always thinking on what you want or on what you think is right and on what is best for you, then you have found your life and you are holding onto it. If you do that, Jesus says: you lose it. You have already lost it.

B. He who loses his life.

But Jesus says if you give up your life, it may mean giving up your ambitions or your dreams and replace it with what God wants you to do for Him. That is how you gain your life. You let go of it so that you get to keep it. Jesus is talking about spiritual death and spiritual life. Faithful service always means believing in Jesus. To follow Jesus means to let go of yourself completely.

IV. Receiving Jesus and the Father. V. 40-41

A. Receiving a prophet and a righteous man.

If you receive Jesus, believe on Him then you receive God the Father. If you receive a prophet, a church worker, a pastor, fellow church members you will receive a reward. What Jesus is talking about is not salvation but rewards for serving him after we believe.

CONCLUSION: It is not talk but action. Don’t tell me how much you believe in Jesus, don’t tell me how much you love him. Show me! Show everyone! Give that cup of water that Jesus talks about. Serve Jesus as families, get the whole family involved. You will not lose your reward. Amen!

We love you Pastor Case and Gremar