Obstacles to Following Jesus
This morning our men had a great time of study as we finished up Luke 9. It was a very applicable passage, so we spent a lot of time talking about what keeps us from following Jesus the way we should. I know the guys really want to give Him their all. They are a blessing to me.
These three men who Jesus addressed about following Him had three separate obstacles to address. These same factors enter into our discipleship, too. The first man wanted to follow Jesus "wherever" He went. However, when Jesus told him that "the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head," the man was silent about going with Him. He did not want to live a life fully trusting Jesus to provide a place for him to have shelter and to live. That is what it takes to fully follow Jesus. The next man wanted to wait until his father died, so he could bury him and receive his inheritance. Then, he would be free to go with Jesus. Jesus told him bluntly to "let the dead bury the dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Jesus wanted him to know that others could take care of the task of burying his father, but he needed to obey the call of Jesus to follow, even if he didn't have plenty of money to fall back on. Again, it was a case of not fully trusting Jesus. The final man, had a problem with looking back and longing for his family and his way of life. Jesus set him straight by giving the illustration of plowing while looking back. It is impossible to do correctly. We can't follow Jesus while wanting to be back in our old lifestyle.
Jesus never makes it easy to follow Him. He is Lord, and we are His children, once we come to know Him. We are to obey in love as He leads us in His love. Then, He will care for us, as He leads us in His way, not our own ways. It is a wonderful life to follow Jesus, but it is the opposite of what this world says is important. It is all about Him, not us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 43-45.
These three men who Jesus addressed about following Him had three separate obstacles to address. These same factors enter into our discipleship, too. The first man wanted to follow Jesus "wherever" He went. However, when Jesus told him that "the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head," the man was silent about going with Him. He did not want to live a life fully trusting Jesus to provide a place for him to have shelter and to live. That is what it takes to fully follow Jesus. The next man wanted to wait until his father died, so he could bury him and receive his inheritance. Then, he would be free to go with Jesus. Jesus told him bluntly to "let the dead bury the dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Jesus wanted him to know that others could take care of the task of burying his father, but he needed to obey the call of Jesus to follow, even if he didn't have plenty of money to fall back on. Again, it was a case of not fully trusting Jesus. The final man, had a problem with looking back and longing for his family and his way of life. Jesus set him straight by giving the illustration of plowing while looking back. It is impossible to do correctly. We can't follow Jesus while wanting to be back in our old lifestyle.
Jesus never makes it easy to follow Him. He is Lord, and we are His children, once we come to know Him. We are to obey in love as He leads us in His love. Then, He will care for us, as He leads us in His way, not our own ways. It is a wonderful life to follow Jesus, but it is the opposite of what this world says is important. It is all about Him, not us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 43-45.