Jesus says to a group of people, "I no longer call you servants, but friends... because I elevate love over obedience."
LOVE OVER OBEDIENCE
Love is first.
Always.
Some will argue the the verse... if you love me you will obey me.
But then they admit love does come first, after all.
Lisa and I made this deal early in our parenting... that we would always love our kids and develop a loving, friendship connection with them no matter what they were going through or how they were behaving.
Because love is more important to us than obedience.
This is what love does.
In fact, we see this kind of radical love in the story of the prodigal son.
Disobedient! Disrespectful!
But oh so loved.
Which is totally offensive to the religious mindset.
But it's true.