Putting Christ First

When Jesus came, the Jews expected him to come in as the mighty king, overthrow the Romans, and make Israel the most powerful nation in the world, so that no one would dare to attack them, and they could live at peace.  While God did promise that one day Messiah would come and set up his earthly kingdom, he also warned that some other things would happen before he did.  Since those things were not as desirable, they overlooked them.   In Matthew 10:34-36, Jesus made the point that his coming was not for the purpose of making peace between the good and the evil.  “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. “ 

In fact, Christ’s coming would emphasize the difference and widen the gap between good and evil.  The conflict would get even worse as a result of his coming.   Children would reject their parent’s teachings and standards, resulting in an expanding generational gap.  The young and old would literally be fighting each other, with those who should be closest being the worst enemies.  This has been true ever since Christ came and we are seeing it played out again in modern American society, between the young people and the older adults, between liberals and conservatives. 

In Matthew 10:37-38, Jesus said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”  Luke 14:26-27 gives a slightly different account of the same teaching.  “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”  Literally, Jesus said that a person who was more concerned with either side than with God could not serve God, no matter how much they might want to be a Christian.  The choice is not between liberal and conservative ideologies, but between God and the world, as John 14:23-24 makes very clear.  “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.”

We have to understand that being a Christian is not about getting what we want, but about what Christ wants, as Matthew 10:39 points out.  “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”   In our efforts to get what we want out of life, we may give up our soul, just as a person may give up a happy marriage in the effort to gain a promotion or win some special recognition.  Mark 8:36-37 reminds us, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”   

Most people do not set out to deliberately destroy their marriage or reject Christ, they just become so focused on attaining their goals they neglect the relationship with their mate or with God and allow the it to die.  Ultimately, the extra money or the special recognition turns out to be rather insignificant as compared with the relationship that was lost.

Refusing to listen or assaulting or killing an American ambassador is an affront to the United States that may result in breaking of all relationships, while showing respect may result in improving relationships.       The Apostles, and Christians today are sent out as representatives or ambassadors of Christ.   Treating them with respect and listening to what they say shows a respect for the Lord himself, and leads to an improved relationship.    Matthew 10:40-42 tells us, “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.  He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”  Even a little concern for Christ and his word can have a tremendous impact.   It will be well worth our time to listen to God’s messengers, and put him first.