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“Unless You Hate Your Father and Mother”: The Heavy Cost

When Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26), His words sounded surprising. How could the One who teaches us to love and honour our parents speak this way? Jesus wasn’t calling us to emotional hatred. He was calling us to priority . In the language of His day, “hate” meant “to love less.” Jesus was teaching that our loyalty to Him must come before every relationship—even the most precious ones. And for many of us, this is where discipleship becomes costly. Family shapes who we are. But it can also become a stumbling block without us realizing it. Some families have strong expectations— “Take care of us first.” Some provide a sense of security that makes obedience feel risky. Others are deeply concerned about status and reputation and fear what wholehearted obedience may cost. These pressures can quietly pull us away from full devotion to God. A young girl once said to her parents, “I love you, but I ...
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Why are you Christian?

 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you —unless, of course, you fail the test? ”     — 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV) It is a sobering truth that many who call themselves Christians lack a heartfelt desire for God’s Word. Prayer can feel like a duty rather than a delight, and reading the Bible can seem more like an obligation than a joy. This raises a crucial question: Why are you a Christian? Is it because of family or culture—a tradition passed down like an heirloom rather than embraced through faith? Do social expectations shape your Christianity—following Christ to avoid criticism or rejection? Or does fear of judgment hold you to faith, not out of love, but out of obligation? Perhaps you identify as a Christian simply because it was always expected of you. Church attendance and Christian language may be familiar, yet your heart remains untouched. Maybe your faith has become routine—a...
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What’s Controlling You?

  Matthew 12:22 – “Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.” When Jesus met a man under demonic control, that man couldn’t see or speak. His life was literally in darkness and silence – but Jesus’ power brought freedom and wholeness. The same Jesus who freed that man can free us today. While demons may not always show themselves the same way now, many things quietly take control of our hearts and minds. For some, it’s alcohol or drugs , promising excitement but leaving emptiness and regret. For others, it’s the addiction to screens – scrolling endlessly through social media, chasing likes, comparing ourselves, or escaping reality. Our minds become enslaved by technology that learns our habits and shapes our thoughts more than God’s Word. Some are possessed by pride , obsessed with popularity , or consumed with fear of missing out. Others are captives to anger, lust, or anxiety , unable to see life ...
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"Not that I don't love you"

I remember the moment like it was yesterday—the day I told my parents that I had chosen to follow Jesus. My heart was pounding. I wanted them to understand, but I also feared their disappointment. “It’s not that I don’t love you,” I said, looking into their eyes, “but I love Jesus more.” Growing up, I always tried to make my parents proud. Their approval was everything to me. But then I met Jesus, and everything changed. His love overwhelmed me, and I knew I had to follow Him no matter what. When I first told my parents, their faces fell. I could see confusion and hurt behind their eyes. “Why would you choose this? What about us?” they asked. I wanted to explain it perfectly, but even the right words seemed inadequate. The truth was, following Jesus wasn’t easy. It meant giving up so much—my own plans, my comfort, even sometimes their approval. I had to leave behind old ways of thinking. I realized that following Jesus meant a new identity. I was no longer just their daughter; I was...
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Need Your Tables Overturned?

"When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.   In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.   So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.   To those who sold doves he said,  “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”   John 2:13–16 When Jesus entered the temple courts and saw people buying and selling, His heart burned with anger. The temple, meant to be a house of prayer and worship, had been turned into a marketplace. The people were inside the temple, but their hearts were far from God—distracted by greed, money, and selfish gain. In the New Testament, Paul reminds us that our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19–20). Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, God desires to clean...
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Loving God with Integrity

"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31 NIV When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus’ answer was clear: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Loving God is not about a part of us—it is about all of us. It is a daily choice to draw closer to Him in every aspect of life. With the Heart – the Core of Who We Are The heart is the wellspring of life (Prov. 4:23). What fills our heart eventually overflows in our words, actions, and desir...
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The Lord Will Deliver, But Even If He Does Not

“The God we serve is able to deliver us… But even if He does not, we want you to know… we will not serve your gods or worship the image you have set up.”  — Daniel 3:17–18 The three young men in Babylon stood before the most powerful king of their time. The furnace roared in front of them, and their lives hung by a thread. Yet their response was unshaken: “The Lord will provide, but even if He does not, we will not bow.” This is the heart of true faith. It rests in God’s ability to provide, but it does not make obedience conditional on His provision. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed God could save them, and they trusted He would. But even if deliverance did not come, their loyalty to Him would not change. We often pray with confidence that God will provide: Healing for sickness. Provision for financial needs. Open doors for opportunities. Protection in times of fea r. And indeed, the Lord is our Provider (Gen. 22:14). Yet, sometimes the answer is delayed, different, ...
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