I love my friends. October 10, 2011 I moved away from home and left my friends behind. I miss them dearly. Yet, the Lord has laid this question on my heart. Are you willing to lose your life for my sake? Are you willing to leave everything behind that you know in this world to obey my will?

            “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 of Me. And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39

            When some people read these words they are struck with fear or confusion. Some people respond by asking, “I thought Jesus was all about love, He wouldn’t want me to leave my family and friends behind, would He”? But, Jesus is loving toward us and God is a loving God. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” (John 3:16) Therefore, Jesus’s command in Matthew is expressing love. A greater love than many of us, including myself, can fathom. Jesus is telling us that if we truly love Him, if we are serious about being faithful to Him, we would be willing to cast everything in this world to the side and push forward with Him. This includes our family, our friends, our companion, our children and so much more. It is not saying that we are to not love those who we keep close to our hearts, instead it is saying let nothing come between you and I. For, I am the savior of this world and in Me you will lack no good thing. Therefore, trust Me child and let go of the things of this world.

            I am willing to let go. This does not mean that I do not love my friends and family. It means that I love God more because He loved me first, and His love is everlasting.

                                                       Psalm 136 (Check it out)