"Luke 14:26 has nothing to do with salvation or sanctification, but deals solely with unconditional identification with Jesus Christ. Very few of us truly know what is meant by the absolute "go" of unconditional identification with, and abandonment and surrender to, Jesus." My Utmost For His Highest

I don't know if I've experienced unconditional identification, but I've definitely had to draw a line between me and my family allegiances. Even those who have believing parents have to come to a place where their parents aren't in the middle of their relationship with Christ. Our job as parents is to facilitate that relationship by being intimately involved with their spiritual condition and education UNTIL they can take over for themselves. I believe this generally happens when they are out of the house and in a college environment where suddenly, someone they love isn't always watching and approving or disapproving of their actions. Now they have a REAL opportunity to "make their faith their own".

My faith came as a complete rejection of everything I had believed and everything my parents had told me up to that point. I knew then and know now what it feels like to "hate" my father and mother. I know what it feels like to want approval from my earthly father so bad, but getting judged and hated for the only part of me that really MATTERS. I have had to come to greater peace that my Heavenly Father's opinion is the most important one and He thinks I'm on the right track. He loves me without reservation and is proud of me, despite what my parents think. Is it ENOUGH for me? Sometimes, admittedly, no. But mostly it is.

Honestly, sometimes I pray for their salvation so that I can be proved right, so that I don't have to deal with their judgment, and so that me and my family can be loved like I think we deserve.

How's that for convicting??? My prayers need to become totally devoid of my own agenda before I am going to be used effectively. No, I don't have a passion for them to be saved. And it's because of my motivation. I must be holding onto anger and bitterness because my realization of their true state (that they will spend eternity in Hellfire and Brimstone, gnashing their teeth and weeping forever and ever) does not drop me to my knees in passionate pleas for mercy! Not even my realization of that state within ME does it. Wow. I am really no better than they. How have I convinced myself that I love them at all if my attitude is thus?

Lord, I beseech You. Instill in me a burning hope, fear, and passion for my parents' salvation. Burn away all hatred, anger, bitterness, envy, malice within me. Give me a powerful compassion for them. Help me see them as You would have me see them. Not as rebellious children thumbing their noses at you, but as helpless captives to their sins, confused, alone, and unsure of their fate. Fearful slaves to Satan, working as hard as they can to appear free. How I know that place and how wretched an existence it is! PRAISE BE TO YOU, FATHER, that You saved me! That You lifted me out of that! Forgive me for my continued walk in sin. We have only just started to begin to mold me, Lord! I have been under the impression that we were further along than we are. I am still at square one, Lord! Become my Master. Become my joy. Become my justice. Become my love. Become my purpose. My all. My life.