Episode October 4, 2026 7 min 6s

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Chris... - Loving Jesus More

What does it really mean to love Jesus above everyone and everything else? In Luke 14:26, Jesus uses strong language to teach His followers that their devotion to Him must come before every other relationship, desire, and priority. He is not calling us to hate our families; He is calling us to love Him so completely that every other love is secondary. Following Jesus means denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and choosing Him above our own desires.

It is possible to call ourselves devoted followers of Christ while allowing other loves to slowly take His place. Family, friendships, careers, comfort, success, and even self-love can compete for the affection that belongs first to Jesus. When our love for Christ is our highest priority, however, every other relationship can be put in its proper place. Loving Jesus more changes the way we love our spouses, children, friends, neighbors, and even ourselves. His invitation is not simply to believe in Him, but to follow Him with wholehearted devotion.

Highlights

What Jesus meant when He said His followers must “hate” their families in Luke 14:26
Why loving Jesus first does not mean neglecting or hating the people we love
What it means to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ
How other relationships, desires, and priorities can quietly compete with our love for Jesus
Why our passion and obedience to Christ can sometimes grow weaker over time
How putting Jesus first helps us establish healthier priorities in every other relationship
Encouragement to return to our “first love” and pursue Jesus with wholehearted devotion

Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter.

Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword

Do you want to listen ad-free?

When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!

Full Transcript Below:

Loving Jesus More

By Cindi McMenamin

Bible Reading: