Good morning. It’s Tuesday, September 26, 2023. We are back from Japan and ready for a new season! Today, we learn about discipleship. There are many kinds of disciples; today, we will talk about a few... which are you? Hopefully, we are the fourth one. Read on …
Today's Reading:
Ezra 4; Psalms 113; Psalms 127; Luke 9
Scripture
“And 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’” (Luke 9:57-62).
Observation
It seems that Jesus offered discipleship not only to the twelve but also to several others. However, it was the twelve who said “Yes” and were prepared to fulfill that commitment with their actions. In Luke, Jesus met with three others, but they were not ready to respond to the call.
Application
The first type of follower is the zealous one. A zealous follower jumps in quickly but often jumps out just as quickly. They are like the seed sown on shallow ground. They might not fully understand the cost and may have a false view of the commitment required. Zealous followers often do not follow through.
The second type is the faithless follower. This person wants to build a nest egg first, seeking an inheritance, and then they will follow so they won't need to trust God completely. They aim to fall back on their barns of plenty.
The third type is the reluctant follower, who is hesitant to leave behind relationships, friends, or family. They want to ensure that if this 'following Jesus' path doesn't work out, they will still have a place at home. Perhaps they'll still have a job or, at the very least, a 'welcome back.
Prayer
Lord, I want to be like the fourth one You described. This is the one who has counted the cost, put their hand to the 'plow' (representing work and effort), and even when their hands blister, they don't look back.
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