Uncompromising Relationship

Author: Joseph

Date: May 24, 2020

Have you ever noticed that when you begin to seek God more and place more trust Him, that there seems to always be an equally measured counter reaction from those around you? Why is that? Especially from those who are among the community of believers? Unwarranted criticisms and resentment begin to arise from others and then you begin to question if, perhaps, your pursuit for more intimacy with God is somehow wrong as it is making your life more difficult in your relationships with others. If this is not already happening to you now it will happen to you, so please pay close attention.

Yeshua forewarned us of this method of discouragement and oppression that would come as a result of our faith in Him. He knew beforehand that our personal relationships would be directly affected by our pursuit of God.

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.” (Matthew 10:34-36)

When you begin to actively build your faith and relationship with God, our adversary, Satan, will use anyone and anything to ensure that you are immediately discouraged and that your efforts are detoured in any way possible. Even close family members, perhaps believers themselves (maybe stagnant in their own faith), can be used to discourage your efforts and to keep you away from your full potential as a disciple of God. The greatest threat to an unbelieving world is more people coming to a relationship with God and even more so when believers begin to strengthen their faith and become an active disciple of God’s kingdom.

Our enemy loves to make our struggles for faith very personal and this is why even close family and friends will be used when possible. It should not surprise us because the same thing happened to Yeshua as He was among His disciples and preparing to be crucified. One of His closest disciples, Peter, began to discourage Him from His imminent death on the cross, to which Yeshua said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matthew 16:23). Peter, thinking he was looking out for Yeshua’s best interest, was actually discouraging Him and using his words to turn Yeshua away from God’s will.

God wills for us to be in intimate relationship with Him. He always has willed for this, even from the beginning of creation. The times we live in are no different; God still desires us to grow in intimacy with Him and to live an uncompromising life for Him. The cost, for us, is great, but it was even more costly for God, who gave Himself as a sacrifice for us.

Yeshua said His coming and His initiation of God’s kingdom would divide people. He also said this afterward, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). Anything that we choose to love more than God will inevitably separate us from Him. God has to be first. When family, friends, coworkers, or anyone discourages your growing intimacy with God, seek God even more fervently and pursue Him with all your heart. When you make God your top priority and your most important relationship, you will realize that there is more satisfaction in Him alone than in a multitude of people. Do not give up such a precious and costly relationship just to appease someone else or to make someone else love you.

"Anything that we choose to love more than God will inevitably separate us from Him."

Are you willing to love God more than any other relationship you have? If you have placed someone or something before Him, it’s time to reprioritize and place God at the forefront of your life.

Do you seek Him eagerly and take joy in the personal relationship you have with Him? A relationship with God should always be growing. Do not be discouraged by people that tell you otherwise. Seeking intimacy with God is going to bring you opposition, but for this very reason rejoice when it comes, because that means you are on the right path for your life.

Matthew 10:34-37

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). www.lockman.org