All or Nothing…

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy or Me. “

Matthew 10:37

There are parts of the Bible that are less palatable than others; words we would rather not grapple with, ideas we would rather not subscribe to.  However, if we take a closer look and employ what a friend of mine likes to call our “sanctified imagination” we find that these passages have much to teach us.

Our text is in need of the “sanctified imagination”.  It is a truth that we may be adverse to hearing.  It may be indicative of why God has been described as a “jealous” God.

God is not interested in just parts of us.  Its humor was questionable, but I recently read a joke that illustrates the difference between God’s acceptance of us and man’s: “Five Rule for Men to Follow a Happy Life:  1.  It’s important to have a woman who helps at home, cooks from time to time, cleans up and has a job / 2.  It’s important to have a woman who makes you laugh/ 3.   It’s important to have a woman you can trust who doesn’t lie to you./ 4. It’s important to have a woman you are physically attracted to./ 5.  It’s important that these four women do not know each other.”*

The joke is rooted in the idea that some men are looking not to accept the many different facets of one woman, but just many different women.  God wants us all; not just our domesticated selves, our physical selves, our brilliant mind, our heart on the weekends and our spirit during the week…No, God wants all of us; every part of us: the good and the bad.   With that kind of acceptance from the Almighty, who can argue if God desires that we put God first?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for loving every part of me.  Thank You for allowing me to be whole and complete.  Help me to put You first.  Let my love for others flow out of my love for You.  Amen

*Adapted from Ralph Richard Banks’ Is Marriage for White People?