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A Test of Your Love
Scripture Passage:
Matthew 10:37-39 Introduction: Many today think of the Lord Jesus as a soft person who allows any and all to run over Him. He just accepts what we give Him, because He has to. This, however, is the not the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus of the Bible was rough. The Jesus of the Bible also made some astounding requests of His followers. Though many of these commandments have long been forgotten, we will look at some tough commandments from the Lord Jesus concerning our love for Him.
- YOUR LOVE FOR OTHERS (Matthew 10:37He 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.
See All...) - Love for a Father or Mother
- Love for a Son or Daughter
- Love for a Husband or Wife (Luke 14:26If 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.
See All...) - Love for Brothers or Sisters (Luke 14:26If 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.
See All...) - Exemplified by Abraham (Genesis 22:1-3 [1] And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
[2] And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
[3] And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
See All..., 9-13) - YOUR LOVE FOR SELF (Matthew 10:38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
See All...) - Men are Lovers of Self (2 Timothy 3:2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
See All...) - We are to Deny Ourselves (Luke 9:23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
See All...) - We are to Take up a Cross (Matthew 10:38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
See All...; Luke 9:23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
See All...) - We are to Follow Him (Matthew 10:38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
See All...; Luke 9:23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
See All...) - Exemplified by Moses (Hebrews 11:24-27 [24] By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
[25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
[26] Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
[27] By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
See All...) - YOUR LOVE FOR LIFE (Matthew 10:39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
See All...) - Finding Life Here is Actually a Loss of Life
- Loss of Life Here is Actually a Finding of Life
- Not Exemplified by Demas (2 Timothy 4:10For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
See All...) - Exemplified by Paul (Acts 20:24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
See All...; Philippians 3:7-8 [7] I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. [8] Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?
See All...)
Conclusion: Are you allowing your relationships to hinder you from loving the Lord Jesus as you ought? Are you allowing a love for yourself to hinder you from loving the Lord as you ought? Is your love for life and the things of this world coming between you and the Lord? If so, consider the One who loved you so much that He gave Himself for you. He deserves your love. Give it to Him and give it to Him undivided.
Proverbs 27:16
Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.