Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well. —Luke 14:26 (GNT)
The question in our opening text is simple but profound. Anyone can say, “I love God with all my heart,” yet words alone don’t prove it. Before Jesus was crucified, Peter boldly proclaimed that he was ready to stick with Jesus even unto death (Matthew 26:31-35). Yet when the pressure came, he denied Jesus three times. That painful failure shows how easy it is to speak devotion without understanding its cost.
Saying “I love the Lord” is one thing; living it out is another. True love for Jesus grows out of revelation, not emotion. So ask yourself: how far would you go for Jesus? What sacrifices could you make? What would you surrender, and how much opposition could you endure without abandoning Him?
These questions expose the depth of our devotion. If loving Jesus is only comfortable sentiment, it won’t stand the test. Loving Him more than self—and more than family ties—means aligning your choices, priorities, and courage with His call. When you measure your life by those standards, you begin to see whether your claim is real.
Today, make a practical move toward deeper love: examine your priorities, confess where love is shallow, and choose obedience in the areas where you have been reluctant. Small acts of faithfulness form the habit of sacrificial love. As that habit grows, your life will reorder around Christ’s lordship and everything else will find its proper place. Hallelujah!
Today’s Rhema
To truly love the Lord, you must love Him more than you love yourself or anything that concerns you.
Confession for the Day
Father, thank You for opening my eyes to this truth. I declare that my love for You continues to abound more and more, and it is reflecting in everything I do, in Jesus’ name. Amen!
