Loving Jesus More - The Crosswalk Devotional - October 4

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Loving Jesus More 
By Cindi McMenamin

Bible Reading:
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” - Luke 14:26

Have you ever stumbled over these words? Why would Jesus seem not to want any followers by telling others they have to hate their own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even their own life in order to be a devoted follower of His?

Certainly, Jesus wasn’t telling us to hate others. In fact, He told a teacher of the Law that the greatest commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and strength. And the second greatest was to love our neighbor as much as we already love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). 

No, Jesus wasn’t telling us to hate others or neglect them in any way, especially those in our own households. He was telling us that our love and dedication to Him must be so strong that it’s as if we hate any other family member in comparison. He was giving us a very tall order for what it means to follow Him. He was letting us know what putting Him first really looked like. 

Jesus also told His disciples in Matthew 16:24-25: “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.”

Again, was Jesus trying to make it so difficult that no one could follow Him? To the contrary, I believe He was looking for those who would love Him with the kind of dedication and sacrifice that He was soon to display in going to the cross for us. He didn’t want fair-weathered believers. He wanted loyal followers who would be willing to give Him their all. 

In light of this passage, I had to ask myself a few hard questions recently. Am I loving Jesus more than anyone or anything? Could I be following Him more closely than I am?  Am I loving Him as much today as I did the day we met?

I first decided to follow Jesus as a very young child. I barely remember the actual day. But I remember recommitting my life to Him many times throughout my growing-up years.

Now that I'm in my sixth decade of life, I have long called myself a follower of Jesus. I have spent nearly a half-century instructing others on how to follow Him. But how closely am I following?  

I must admit there are days my passion for Him wanes. My obedience to Him seems not as important as the day before. My heart follows harder after other loves. And I am convicted all over again by those words of Jesus to His disciples.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Other loves can so quickly steal our hearts away. And sometimes our greatest love is for ourselves. The world constantly teaches through social media reels, television shows, movies, and ads to love yourself. But Jesus said, “deny yourself” and take up your cross (associate with His death), and follow Him, not the desires of your own hearts. The more I love myself, not Him, the easier it is for my “First Love”—which should be Jesus—to become my fourth, fifth, or sixth love… or worse yet, somewhere further down the list.

I never want Jesus to say to me what He said to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:4-5: “But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first…” 

When I wholeheartedly love the One who made me, gave His life for me, and rose again to redeem me and make me more like Himself, I can put myself on the shelf and Jesus on the throne, and not worry about my self-esteem. I can focus on esteeming Him. And when I love Him more than any other, my priorities will be rightly ordered when it comes to being a good spouse, parent, sibling, friend, and neighbor. 

Lord Jesus, help me to love You more than I do, and to follow more closely after You. On good days and bad. When I'm motivated and when I'm not. In busy times and lean times. May You be first and foremost in my heart. 

Further Study:
Matthew 22:37-38  

For daily encouragement to love Jesus more, see Cindi’s book: The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God.

Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Dangben 

Cindi McMenamin is a national speaker, Bible teacher, certified writing coach, and award-winning writer who helps women and couples strengthen their relationship with God and others. She is also a mother, a pastor’s wife who has been married 37 years, and the author of 19 books, including When Women Walk Alone (more than 160,000 copies sold), The New Loneliness: Nurturing Meaningful Connections When You Feel Isolated, and The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God. For more on her speaking ministry, coaching services for writers, and books to strengthen your soul, marriage, and parenting, see her website: www.StrengthForTheSoul.com.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com! 

Listen to The Love Offering!

Encouraging you to love God, others, and yourself—one faithful step at a time.

Each week, host Rachael Adams sits down with inspiring women who are making a difference right where they are. Through honest conversations, biblical wisdom, and real-life stories, you'll be reminded that your everyday acts of love—no matter how small—matter deeply to God.

You were created to live a life of impact.
You were made to be a love offering.