Do I Follow My Feelings or God?

The scene is an invitation to go with his brothers to Jerusalem to the big Fall Festival of Tabernacles.  The festival would be something Jesus likes and it is in Jerusalem with lots of celebrating and worship at the Temple.  He could go with his brothers like they did as kids.  The Torah says the men of Israel are to attend three festivals each year and this is one of them. Jesus could justify going with his brothers because he needs to spend more time with them and they invited him.  Jesus could feel it would be the right thing to go to the festival because of religious obligation and it is fun.  Jesus has to keep in mind God’s plan for him.  He must choose between his feelings and God.  He chooses God’s plan. 

After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles!  You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!”  For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee. John 7:1-9 (NLT2)

Jesus’ walk with God the Father required awareness of priorities and overcoming personal feelings for what is greater.  In Luke, Jesus speaks to the feelings about family and being his disciple. 

A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,  “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:25-26 (NLT2)

Feelings guide many decisions and can fog making the right ones.  Choosing God’s way leads to good things for ourselves and our family too. 

Have you made decisions to go with God rather than submit to feelings and do something else?

Have feelings for family fogged your view of God’s light?

Have you or someone you know adapted God’s truth due to feelings for a family member?

Have you chosen to be Jesus’ disciple?