There is a verse that causes many Christians to flinch. In it Jesus tells us,  “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26

        Wow! Is Jesus really telling us to hate everybody in our family? Obviously there must be a mistake. And quite frankly, there is. The problem lies in the translation of the Greek word, “miseo,” into our English word, “hate.” Yes, “miseo” can mean “hate,” but it also has another meaning, which is “to love less by comparison.” The latter meaning is what Jesus unquestionably meant. I suppose the translators were going through some economic troubles like we are today and felt that it would be prudent to try to save some ink, but in the process they succeeded only in causing some difficulties.

        But knowing the correct translation should still make some of us flinch. Do we, in fact, love Jesus more than any of our other loved ones? Jesus says that unless we do we can not be one of His disciples. He did not say we might not. He said we can not.

        We must remember that Jesus told us in Matthew 22:37 that the most important commandment is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Jesus did not suggest this. He commanded it. And He was repeating a commandment given in Deuteronomy 6:5. This is the number one commandment, above all others, and it may be the one that is broken by more people than any other. In fact, it is seldom even thought about.

        We would not even think of committing murder because we know that is breaking a commandment. We do not steal for the same reason. But the most important commandment is shattered to pieces continually by people who call themselves Christians.

        The answer is simple to state: build a relationship with Jesus and the Father through time spent in prayer and in God’s Word, and the loving part always follows. It always does.

        “But, Bob, I work all day. Come home and eat. Spend a few hours in front of the TV. And crash. There is no time for Bible study and relationship building prayer every day.”

        Then ponder this. We may need to consider that the question at this point may not be whether we love Jesus more than our family. The question may be even more basic than that. Do we even love Jesus more than a “Law and Order” rerun or the “American Idol” program or the evening news. Personally, I would not want that pointed out to me by our Lord on the day my spirit leaves this earthly body.

        The entire history of mankind has been about one thing, and one thing only, and that is to find a bride for Christ. Everything else in world history, and in our individual lives, is so incredibly incidental as to be totally meaningless. And as with every marriage, a deeply loving relationship is the key. Our real future, the long term eternal one, is our choice. This earthly life is not a game.

        “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  Spoken by Jesus Himself in Matthew 7:13-14.