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Luke 9:57-62 - Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
How often have you been in the middle of singing your guts out during a worship service, and proclaim, "I will give it all to You!" Or, maybe you have listened to an incredible sermon and found yourself face down promising God, "Yes, Jesus, I will follow You! I'll do anything you ask!" But somehow, only hours later, you forget about your vows, and return to the grind of everyday life. Your bible is left closed on your bedside table and prayer is an afterthought as you drift off to sleep.
Throughout the New Testament, we see various examples of Jesus calling His disciples to follow Him (Levi in Luke 5:27, Matthew in Matthew 5:27, and Peter and Andrew in Matthew 4:19). In each verse, we see the disciples immediately get up and follow. Luke 9:1-2 says that Jesus called the Twelve together, gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. But, only a few verses later, a man tells Jesus Christ that he begged the disciples to drive out a demon, but they could not. Despite Jesus' calling and empowerment, the disciples couldn't heal.
Like many of us who have accepted Christ, the disciples were not desperate for the Lord. Instead, they were content to stand on the sidelines and watch Jesus perform miracles. If we want to experience His Glory and receive His protection, we must give Him everything. We must get on our face before Him in desperation waiting with expectation for Him to speak. When Jesus says "Follow me" we are to follow desperately. When we do, He will bless!
Used by permission from NewSpring Church
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