Volume 75 • November 1, 2010

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Commitment

Dr. James MacDonald

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:25-27).

We learn in Luke 14:25 that anything less than total 100% radical commitment to Christ is not commitment at all. Jesus said, “If you don’t hate all other human relationships compared to your relationship with Me, you cannot be My disciple.”

You ask, “What does He mean by hate my father and mother?”  In Matthew 10:37, He said it a different way: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Now that is what commitment is—to Christ first, above everything: my wife, my children, everything.  Most parents know it’s a struggle not to love their kids more than they love God. You are not helping your kids at all if you love them more than you love God.

That’s the whole point of the story of Abraham and Isaac. God told Abraham, “You can’t love anyone or anything more than Me. So get your son and take him up on the mountain and offer him on an altar there” (See Genesis 22:1–19). The great test was on.

A couple of years ago when my family and I were on sabbatical, I was wrestling with this exact issue. I came to a decision. I took my sons to the top of a high hill in northern England. Sheep were everywhere—a beautiful setting.  I read to them the story of Abraham and Isaac. I communicated to each of them, “Son, I can never love you more than I love God.”  We knelt down and I laid my hands on them and consecrated myself and them before the Lord to always love God first.

Now when you have settled your commitment to Christ, then comes the same level of commitment to your family. Anything less than total 100% radical commitment to my wife, to my husband, to my children, to my parents is not commitment at all.

You say, “I don’t know if I have that kind of a commitment to my family.” Well then you need to repent and ask God for forgiveness and start over. You will love your children better when you love God first.

—James MacDonald

For more from James MacDonald and the "Walk in the Word" Bible teaching ministry, visit WalkInTheWord.com

Mitch's Journal

Thursday 2/26/2004

My cousin and I snowboarded all day; it’s so beautiful out here, I want to move out here so bad!

Today God taught me that he brings me into people’s lives in different places and different circumstances. I can’t put myself in front of my own circumstance and say I will watch this or I will protect myself. All of my circumstances are in God’s hands. He is watching over us, He will protect us if we do as He asks us to do.

News Highlights

Casa de Esperanza: Mission Complete

October 29, 2010

Back in February, MSC was introduced by Harvest Bible Chapel to a dirty, uninhabitable, run-down building some 80-plus years old. As we walked through the home for the first time, we knew that virtually every square foot would need to be renovated. At that moment MSC jumped in to partner …

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View Casa de Esperanza Photo Gallery >

Supporter Spotlight: Dr. Carmen Tebbe

October 29, 2010

This month we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Carmen Tebbe and why she chooses to support MSC: Please take a minute to read Carmen's question and answer interview with MSC to find out why she puts MSC high on her priority list…

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Partner Spotlight: Along Side Ministries

October 29, 2010

This month’s Partner Spotlight is on: Along Side Ministries based in Phoenix, AZ. Bill Harbeck, of Holding on to Hope, led MSC to Along Side Ministries and is heavily involved in their outreach programs.  Both of these organizations MSC supports with funding. Read below to find out how Alongside Ministry is making…

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