Following Jesus resolutely (Lk 9:57-62)
Is God's presence to you evident?
Did you bring Jesus into all your thoughts, into your mood?
Pray to hear the voice of God today, to continue to receive encouragement and love to move on...
A lot of times we think follow Jesus... God will give us xxxx.
But little do we know that, before glory comes, there will be test, sufferings.. (God will want us to discern our motives... And tear down. This is also how Christ differentiate his followers)
“As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”” (Following gOd supersedes all other relationships of God)
Luke 9:57-62 NIV
V60 not that you don't focus on the earthly matter, but he meant don't only focus on it, proclaim about kingdom of God (meet the needs of their souls first, focus on bringing them to meet Christ first), before doing all other things
Is Jesus worthy of our following?
- No other way! Salvation
- If there is any issue in our life, that is where we lack prayers, we don't know God clear enough. Because if you don't find answers in Jesus, you have no other way!
- Jesus will be with us, all the way.
- "Follow (act) Jesus (object, sweetener)"
Resolute allegiance to Jesus Christ
Cautious against "casual commitment, ie half hearted" in following Jesus
- Pin down distractions (idols) - can seem legitimate -> especially will weaken our fighting will
- Basic comfort
- Kinship
- Not about right or wrong, what is more important to you?
- Pin down to battle them
2. Don't look back (v62) = half hearted
- Past is better to you? When you think of the past and be absorbed in it (think past is better than now) --> it will harm us
- When heart is divided (think of God and look to the past), our divided hearts cannot let us reap the current benefit and joy --> cannot do well! cannot enjoy
- Glorify the one who loves you NOW
- Christian living will be ineffective (even though you can be coming, and serving)
Pray till our hearts find this resolution
3. Resolute commitment --> see new grace daily
- Change in life / lifestyle
- Do what Jesus does, goes where he goes ( with sinners)
- Jesus wisdom, authority and strength will flow to us
- When things are not easy, it doesn't mean it is worthless and we should give up. God will surely show us new grace when we have the heart to resolve to follow Him
Following Jesus - continuous process
- Not one off decision, but daily renewal, daily new grace
- It is a process, so do not feel discouraged easily, it doesn't mean God cannot brace you up tmr. What matters is not you weak or strong, but it matters that God is strong
- Even if we are ok, firm today, do not be overtly excited --> because it is a process. If we are not careful, we will be complacent and fall harder!
- Persist in following Jesus -> people will be drawn to Christ
- If there is no persistence, people will not think "what's this big deal about Jesus?"