DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, MAY 3, 2012
LOVE AND HATE: THEY GO TOGETHER
The kingdom of God consist of those who love God. When we love someone we honor them; we make the choice to esteem them above all else. This is the nature of love--it is sacrificial. In the Kingdom of God, you will find opposition to your love, something or someone that causes you to weaken your walk, your devotion. It will pull on you and tug on you until you must choose to move passionately toward God. This passionate move often requires suffering. It is "taking up one's cross." The cross is the divine symbol of the Kingdom of God. For it reminds us of our Savior, JESUS, "who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
In the kingdom of God, we have to constantly make choices that affirm that God is first in our life. These are often tough choices. God absolutely wants us to walk in fellowship and agreement with our families if possible; but when it is not possible, we must have strength to walk with God alone. In Matthew, Jesus models for us what it looks like to prefer the Kingdom of God over flesh:
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Matthew 12: 46-50
Today, let us love God, passionately-- and be blessed in His Kingdom.
