Today, we're reminded of a profound truth that's easy to forget in our busy lives: Jesus must come first, above all else. Rich dives into Matthew 10:34-37 and Luke 14:26, passages that initially seem harsh, with Jesus saying He came to bring a sword and that we must 'hate' our families to be His disciples. But as we dig deeper, we uncover the powerful message beneath the hyperbole. Jesus isn't literally asking us to hate our loved ones; He's emphasizing the supreme importance of our relationship with Him. This teaching aligns with other scriptures that instruct us to 'seek first the kingdom of God.' We're challenged to examine our lives and ask: Is Jesus truly first in our hearts, our actions, our time, and our resources? This message urges us to move beyond surface-level faith and truly prioritize our relationship with Christ, reminding us that pretending to put Jesus first never works out well in the end. If you want help in starting this journey, please don't hesitate to reach out! If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com