Who do you love the most?

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:36-38

How do you even reconcile these statements from Jesus into a religious order or doctrine? How do you formulize these statements into a practice? Because religion is all about rules and regulations NOT real relationship – and these statements would require anyone trying to take these statements and make them into ‘steps’, or practices to assume God’s throne in judgement. They would essentially become the judges FOR God and speaking FOR God. In Jesus’ day the Pharisees had become this very practice of ‘religion’, but the vast majority of them had no other motivation but to gain power and status, and in their culture and community … religion was the way to attain the things they wanted. Jesus exposed their hearts for what they were.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27

So what is the issue?

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:3

Me versus Him. My wants versus His wants. My plan versus His plan. My expectations versus His love for me. My arrogance versus the Truth. My pride and ignorance versus God’s thoughts and heart. My passions versus His will for me. It usually comes down to the desire for control. That’s the danger of free will. We CAN decide (we do it WAY to often) to go our own way instead of His. How do we even know His way? Do we need to memorize the entire scriptures to know? Or do we just need to KNOW Him and His Holy Spirit who are LIVING and speaking to us … everyday? Is it about rules and doctrines or is it about real relationship?

Who really knows a person? The one who has read the person’s autobiography, or actually speaks and has conversations with that person every day?  Does that make the autobiography wrong? Of course not. It should be a starting place for conversations and questions with the individual. What did Jesus say about this? Read John chapter 16 and the work of the Holy Spirit that should be ongoing in our lives.

Are we hearing Him? Are we listening to Him? Are we engaging Him with questions? Are we obeying the tasks He has personally given to us to do for Him? How will we be able to actually discern the Truth in an age and culture where the very meaning of the word ‘truth’ has been so maligned and twisted? There is only ONE way. By the indwelling Presence of the Truth to take up residence in our very own bodies. We only receive that by inviting Him in. Not by a mental or physical statement but by a heart soul decision in surrender to Him. By realizing we need Him EVERYDAY!

What is your prayer life like? Is it religious? Is it just lists of things you want? Is it filled with ‘special’ words, hoping to garner God’s favor? Or is it a conversation that happens throughout your entire day? Do you pray what He wants? Is your prayer Holy Spirit led? Are you praying what He wants or what you want?

Who do you love the most?

What does the evidence of your life say?