July 18

Luke 9:51-62 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." 59 To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." 60 And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and "proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Observation

Jesus uses three encounters to assert the cost of being a follower of Christ. In each case, Jesus' response wasn't simply a way to highlight the physical things of this world that hinder us, but the type of heart we must have to effectively follow Him. In the first case, Jesus uses his homelessness as a way to point us away from the things of this world that we find "rest" and comfort, but to consider losing it all as we pursue the will of God. In the second encounter, the desire to bury his father seemed noble on the surface. But Jesus saw into the heart. He wanted to delay from doing what Jesus was calling him to do immediately. In a way, he was prioritizing his relationship over God's calling. In the final encounter, this person only asked to say "farewell" to his family and friends. It seemed innocent enough. But Jesus saw that the temptation of looking back and wanting to go back to his old life while doing God's will could prove too great for him. Jesus requires a complete and whole-hearted devotion and this person's actions showed the opposite.

Application

At every stage of life, the number (and the importance) of excuses to not follow Him and "proclaim the kingdom of God" increases. In our youth, we feel too young and immature. As young adults, our focus is on education, career, and pursuit of a significant other. Marriage, kids. Then we feel too old, with nothing left to give. And at every stage, the pleasures of this world call us to just "enjoy life." Some seem like noble pursuits. Some are clearly not. Do the decisions I make with my life reflect an uncompromising devotion to God and an unyielding pursuit to "proclaim His kingdom?"

Prayer

Heavenly Father, there are many worldly pursuits and responsibilities, some of which seem important to me. I pray that none of those things will supercede what you have called me to be and do. In Jesus name, Amen.

--sam w