Read Luke 9:57-62
Sounds Like A Good Excuse…But It’s Not!
As Jesus and others were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go!” Jesus replied that he has no place to lay his head. What does that even mean? To me Jesus is saying you never know where God’s going to take you. So are you willing to follow him no matter what?
Jesus says to a man “Follow me!” The man replies, “First let me go and bury my father.” Sounds like a good excuse because it was common for the eldest son to bury their parents. It was an honorable tradition. It sounded like a good excuse. But Jesus responds, “Let the dead bury their own dead, instead go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” Regardless on whether or not his dad had died yet, it was an excuse the man gave and Jesus wanted the man to know such honorable traditions are never greater than the responsibility of sharing Jesus with others.
A third man said he would follow Jesus, “BUT first let me say goodbye to my family.” Another good excuse. Why not? Family should be important to us. Jesus must have recognized some hesitancy in the man’s response because He responded, “No one who puts their hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God.” Yes, family should be important to us along with other things, BUT Jesus wants us to know that nothing should be more important than the call to proclaim the Kingdom of God.
What’s the one thing or person that keeps you from following Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Don’t let anything or anyone keep you from following Jesus. The things of this world are all temporary, even the “important” things. But the things dealing with the Kingdom of God are eternal. So let’s get our priorities straight and follow Jesus without saying, “I will follow you, BUT….”
