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. Matthew 10:37-38
Our obedience or refusal to the Lord
demonstrates our loyalty to Christ
Any of us who are concerned more of what any person thinks,
even putting what our own children think above what the Lord thinks,
then that is putting them above the Lord
Not telling them the truth,
Not warning them of a danger or a looming catastrophe,
withholding what you know you when you should teach them something
Or if you see them falling into a dangerous place spiritually
and you do not warn them,
you may be putting them and what they think above the Lord
Even at the sake of a relationship
There are no excuses before the Lord
if He directs you to share a truth and you refuse
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness
and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that
the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 2:4
This is where the delicate skill of listening to the Holy Spirit comes in
Staying close to Him and standing for Christ,
and yet, speaking the truth with love
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ: Ephesians 4:15
Do your best, God knows what that is, He notices our intentions
There will be many times when God requires us to make a choice
for Him: between Him and another person or cause
If we are not putting God first,
then we are choosing the other person or cause
That is not pleasing to God
Fear the Lord not any human, knowing it is before Him that you stand or fall
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear:
Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell;
yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Luke 12:5
God will recognize whatever we do for Him
As we risk the consequences of what others think,
of what may happen if we speak out for the Lord, we are serving Him
Be obedient, no matter what the cost, otherwise we are not worthy of Him
Scriptural References:
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart
was only evil continually.
Genesis 6:5
For the word of God is quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12