Scripture to Read: Luke 9:57–62
God had Luke then record what Jesus had laid out about following Him. Jesus never painted an unrealistic picture of what it meant to follow Him. We read in Luke 9:57–62, “As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, ‘I will follow You wherever You go.’ 58 And Jesus said to him, ‘The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’ 59 And He said to another, ‘Follow Me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.’ 60 But He said to him, ‘Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.’ 61 Another also said, ‘I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.’ 62 But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” Jesus told the first person the truth, without trying to paint an unrealistic picture of what it meant to follow Him. The second person did not have a dead parent; he wanted to live his life with them until they passed away and then serve Jesus. Jesus made it clear that family obligations must not take precedence over following Him. The last person was not asking for a long delay but was still asking for a delay. Jesus reminded this person that there was a necessary commitment to follow Him and to stay focused on that commitment.
Challenge & Application
Has there been anything in your life that has hindered or delayed you from serving Christ wholeheartedly?
What things do you need to die to so that your life is fully sold out to Jesus?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!