LOVE LESS THE OTHERS

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26 (NKJV)

Becoming a disciple of Christ Jesus will cost you something, If not all things. You would have to shift or change whoever is your allegiance or loyalty pledged. The word "Hate" in the Bible passage, the text of this teaching, is a strong word. In the original text, Greek, it is rendered miseō, which is translated: to detest (especially to persecute); by extension to love less.

In other words, it literally means, whoever would be Jesus’ disciple would have to love less his or her father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and his own life also (Luke 14:26).

To love less means, God would be number one in the life of a believer or disciple of Christ—whoever is following Christ or pledges allegiance to Him. You love other people and other things less. Your love for God should be above all, it should be top-notch. You love less your goals, aspirations, career, or whatever. God becomes the first, number one, in your life and all you do. What He says would be the final and that determines the direction you go in life.

This is what being a disciple means, and it is the core of serving God. It is called a life of submission and unwavering commitment. It is also called walking in the spirit; being ruled or led by the Holy Spirit through the recreated human spirit of a believer. And it is the kind of life that God wanted every believer to live— total submission to God, and that of unwavering commitment.

Peace.