SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:57-62
“Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
OBSERVATION:
Jesus was more concerned about fulfilling His mission than about finding a comfortable place to stay. Not even family obligations could get in the way of fulfilling His mission. Those who allow ‘things’ to distract them are not really ready for service in the Kingdom of God. All of this sheds light on what it means to follow Jesus. We are surrendering control of our own lives, goals and commitments to Jesus, and enlisting in His mission. We are signing up for service, and as in the military, so with the community of Jesus-followers, it involves risk, sacrifice and change. We are missionaries. Our primary identity is not ‘saved’ but ‘sent’. The ‘saved’ part is a footnote to the ‘sent’ part, not the other way around. Its not primarily about our comfort, but our commission. This is how Jesus did it, and this is how we are to do it. “‘As the Father has sent me’, he said, ‘so I send you!'”
APPLICATION:
Very appropriate as we are in the middle of the house-buying process. Very distracted, very unsettled, and my focus is not on my primary task, namely to share the message of Jesus, but on finding a comfortable place. Maybe I should be asking, ‘where can we live where we can meet the most people, and best share the message with others?’ Would that change our focus? Or ‘where can we live that is the simplest, most modest, so that we can free up time and resources for ministry?’ Maybe I should be praying, ‘Lord, where do You want me to move, in order to follow You in Your work?’ It is not primarily about my comfort, but my commission…
PRAYER:
Lord, how easily I get distracted. And how quickly I can find excuses for it. Forgive me and help me. And Lord… where do You want me to move, in order to follow You in Your work? Amen.
LORD, as I read these scriptures, I feel Your Spirit prompting me…. LORD reveal to me as You know it to be:
-I say I will follow You yet do I mean it with all my heart, soul and mind?
-what distracts me from complete devotion and commitment to You and Your purposes for my life
-What excuses do I make?
– What of this world hinders my total surrender and devotion to You?
LORD, there are so many fears and anxious thoughts when I search deep into my heart for the answers to these questions. There are other questions I do not even want to voice….. I pray that You, LORD work a miracle in my heart today…. I think of the song “I Surrender All” – LORD, I desperately want to sing those words with total conviction and trust for I know that it is only in Your Will that I am free. Jesus, all for Jesus…… More of You LORD, less of me…. Grant me the courage and the depth of faith that rises above any fear, any worry, any and all distractions that this world throws at me. In You, I cannot be rejected. In You, I cannot fail. In You, I am no longer held captive…. In You I can become all that You created me to be for Your good and perfect purposes….. Praise You LORD for all that You are and for all that this means for my life. To You be all the glory, honour and praise. Amen
What is the cost of discipkleship? When we say that we will foolw Jesus, it costs. Jesus reminds His followers that it can not be half-hearted service. It is total commitment. We can not make excuses which keep us from our focus of our work in His kingdom. If we are His workers, we can not have a divided loyality wishing that were with family or friends, or . . . Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, since it is the Lord God you are serving. Help me this day, Lord to do what You have asked me to do with all my might, focussing on what is ahead, and enjoying my task as Your servant – today and always.
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
For it’s only in Your will that I am free,
For it’s only in Your will that I am free,
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.