I believe this is because the truth, which is Jesus, is going to challenge us to be different and it is going to make us hold on loosely to God’s stuff. We will be tempted and have to work hard to understand what we learn about Jesus and then follow Him. Even if our family is not willing to learn and grow we have to put God first and keep our eyes on Christ. The people closest to us will challenge us the most because they are family. Our worldly love for them will make us feel they belong to us, but we must realize nothing is ours and we need to strive to surrender to His will. It is so important for us to pray and ask God for wisdom so we can discern what is right and wrong. This world will challenge us constantly to choose it; satan will use all avenues to make us think we are in control. We will have the desire to handle things ourselves and think it is up to us to do everything, when our job is to learn and understand all that God wants.
In verses 38-39 they say, “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it.”
Our life is not our own it is given to us from God and He wants us to love Him and be willing to work hard to deny self and be like Christ. We need to pray saying thanks for everything and please show me all I can do to be a light. Help me to keep my eyes on you and not on me. Fill me with the Spirit of strength that is Holy so I can choose you always and keep me open to grow and learn, in Jesus name, Amen.