57As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
58Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
59He said to another man, "Follow me."
But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
60Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."
62Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Why do only a few people follow Christ for a lifetime? Why do some appear to follow for a time and then fall away? What prevents us from following Jesus wholeheartedly? Why do many of us prefer to build on the sand rather than the rock?
Why do only a few people follow Christ for a lifetime? Why do some appear to follow for a time and then fall away? What prevents us from following Jesus wholeheartedly? Why do many of us prefer to build on the sand rather than the rock?
It can't be that we don't know about Him. With all the technology available today, the archaeological research confirming the people and places of the Scriptures, the immense volumes of writings of believers explaining their faith, and the exegetical study of the words of the Bible - it's as if we know so much, yet believe so little.
It is not a matter of lack of evidence to convince people that the Scriptures is true; the problem is that they do not want to believe the Scriptures. The reason for this is obvious. If people believed in the God of the Bible, they would have no choice but to acknowledge his authority and obey the rules he has laid down.
Discipleship is a very demanding thing and the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. When Jesus said we should be prepared to give up our possessions, he was calling his disciples to recognize that discipleship is never a cheap thing. What is more, Jesus proved it when He went to the cross in our place. The truth is, when you're following Jesus, people aren't always going to approve. Following Jesus means that he has to take first priority in our life, even if it is painful, difficult, and misunderstood. Jesus doesn't offer wealth or comfort or earthly security. He simply says, if you're coming with me you're going to be rejected by the world. Are you prepared to choose that?
However, as difficult as discipleship may seem, I can promise you that following Jesus is worth the cost. When we stand before God, we won't be answering to our critics, but rather our biggest fan and loved one who will be so pleased with what we've accomplished in the face of opposition. When we stand in God's presence, when we hear the words "well done, good and faithful servant" any price we may have paid here in this earthly world, will look silly in comparison to the rewards that await us in with Jesus in eternity.
So, what does Jesus expect us to give up to follow him?
What are we willing to give up in order to follow Jesus?
What does Jesus ask all of us to do?
I think that the question really is, what can we give in exchange for so great a love as his. What will we give? For you see, two thousand years or so after he lived on earth there is still something exciting and magnetic about this Jesus of Nazareth that draws people to him. It must be the power of God behind his word, and the authority with which he calls us to serve him even now. Following Jesus is not an easy thing, but his word is still the best news this world has ever heard for bad times or good, and that is what you and I are called to remember together. Discipleship is a demanding thing. Discipleship is a delightful thing, and discipleship is a determined thing. If you would follow him, come with all you are and with all you have. Following Jesus is worth it. As Peter asked Jesus in John's Gospel, "to whom else will we go"?
Peace and love,
Sue
"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)
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