THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS
by Tommy Tejcka
Luke 9:57-62 - Jesus had encounters with three of his disciples and challenges them.
1. DISCIPLE OF COMFORT
Vs. 57-58 - And as they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 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”
--- He Is Willing To Follow Him Anywhere (but only if it suits him)
--- Jesus states that He doesn't even have a place to lay his head.
--- So are you willing to follow Him even when it may not be comfortable for you?
2. DISCIPLE OF CONVENIENCE
Vs. 59-60 - “And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Permit me first to go and bury my father.” 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””
--- He Is Willing To Follow At His Convenience. (gives Him the leftovers)
--- Jesus states that to let the dead bury the dead (let the spiritual dead do for themselves) and for him to go Preach the Kingdom of God. We need to reach the lost instead of bury the dead. We need to do what Jesus tells us when He asks us to Follow Him.
3. DISCIPLE OF CHOICES
Vs. 61-62 - “And another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God””
--- He Will Follow Him, But... (Keeps his options open)
--- This man allowed other things to distract him, and Jesus knew that if he turned back now, he wouldn't return to follow Him.
Many of us, after making the decision to follow Jesus, have probably said the very same thing, to be willing to follow Jesus wherever He went. But did we really realize the cost of following Him and doing His will? It takes dedication and sacrifice to follow Jesus.
Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
We all have a calling to Follow Jesus. What are we willing to give up to Follow Him? What things might be keeping you from fully following Him? We must not let comforts, convenience or our choices distract us from our devotion to Jesus.
<<< I talked with Tommy after service and asked him what he finds the hardest thing to give up or sacrifice to fully follow Jesus. He replied that the hardest thing to give up was himself. Isn't this so true? If we have fully given ourselves over to the call to follow Jesus, then we would not worry about leaving our place of comfort. We wouldn't just follow Him when it's convenient for ourselves and it would be easy for us to obey Him and make the right choices in life. Choose today to stay focused and committed to following Jesus, no matter the cost. >>>
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