MONDAY, MARCH 10 2014 READING: LUKE 9:57-62 MEDITATION: Then we read of a second man in VERSES 59-60. And from Jesus’ conversation with this one we learn that: THE FOLLOWER OF JESUS HAS NO EARTHLY TIES. Here we have a conversation that has shocked many people; it still shocks me when I read it! Jesus CALLS this man to be His disciple, but he begs leave to go and bury his father first. Doesn’t this seem like a reasonable request? You feel sympathy for the man, don’t you, as you read it. BUT JESUS REPLIES: “Let the dead bury their own dead: I’ve called you to preach for me.” WOW! Friends, the point Jesus makes here, and let no-one mistake it, is that if you’re going to follow Jesus Christ then the claims of His Kingdom come before ANYTHING and ANYONE else. Jesus said elsewhere that, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me”. NOW you get the picture of the kind of devotion that He is calling for! He’s not calling for us to dishonor parents, or shirk our responsibility to family, BUT IF WE ARE PRESSED INTO A CHOICE BETWEEN THE TWO, HE COMES FIRST! And indeed, some have had to lose family to follow Christ. The follower of Jesus has no ultimate earthly ties! So, Jesus says: “LEAVE IT BEHIND!” Let me cast a little further light on this conversation perhaps. When this man says, “Let me first go and bury my father”, it might help us to have an insight into Jewish funeral procedure. An initial burial took place shortly after a person is deceased. This man is not locked away in ‘mourning’, so we may assume that that burial had already taken place. but then ONE YEAR LATER, after the first burial, (and I won’t go into the graphic reasons for it!), the son would return to re-bury the bones in a special box in a slot in the tomb wall. If that’s the situation here, and it seems reasonable to assume it was, then this man who has been called by Jesus could be asking for up to a YEAR’S delay before following! Jesus says, “Others can take care of that, my friend - the demands of the Kingdom are more urgent - MY call cannot wait! Friends, the follower of Jesus has no earthly ties. Jesus says, “LEAVE IT BEHIND . . . Follow Me!” I hear young people saying, “I’ll follow Jesus later on. I’ve other more important things to attend to right now. My career, my education, my girlfriend, my boyfriend. I’ve got to provide a nest egg for my family first; wouldn’t God want me to be responsible like that?!” Friend, if God is calling you to follow Him - to commit your life to Christ, or to take up ministry for Him, or whatever it may be, HIS CALL COMES FIRST! No excuse must be allowed to hinder you. The follower of Jesus has no earthly ties. LEAVE IT BEHIND. Are there any relationships or earthly commitments that are limiting your ability to follow Jesus with absolute commitment? Are there any particular things you are placing before your commitment to the kingdom of God - your business or career, your education, your spouse, your girlfriend or boyfriend, etc? Have you been postponing Gods call to show greater commitment to serving the purpose of His kingdom? RESOLUTIONS: • List the earthly commitments or relationships preventing you from following Jesus whole-heartedly. • Identify the most radical things you are willing to do for Jesus henceforth to show your radical commitment to the kingdom of God • Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to become a totally and radically committed disciple of Jesus.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 12:37:20 +0000
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