January 22, 2025 | Be God's Family
Jesus Teaches about the Cost of Following Him
Scripture: Matthew 8:18-22(NIV)
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Devotional
In the earlier verses of Matthew, chapter 8, Jesus had just performed many miraculous healings…a man with leprosy, a centurion’s servant, Peter’s mother-in-law, and many who were demon-possessed. Following these mountaintop experiences of healings, two men approached Jesus about being His followers. The responses from Jesus were that it was so much easier to SAY they were disciples than to BE His disciples.
The first man in verses 18-20 was from a scribe who dedicated his life to knowing and writing the Scriptures. The scribe told Jesus he would go anywhere with Him. Jesus responded with “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” A decision to follow Jesus could not be made on a whim without the costs it demanded. Consider reading Luke 14:28-30. Jesus knew that being a fully devoted disciple was costly and not the easiest way of life. If you are looking for the easy way, it is not the Jesus way. Really consider your decision.
And then the second man in verses 21-22 needed to understand that being a follower of Jesus meant immediate obedience without excuses or other priorities. The second man stumbled using the excuse to bury his father before following Jesus.
This man thought devotion to family was a valid excuse and priority. Jesus responded to allow others to tend to his father and to follow Him immediately. This moment was not about loving family. We certainly know Jesus was dedicated to his mother, Mary. When He hung on the cross, in extreme agony, He put his mother into the care of John when He was gone. He did not neglect nor forget His mother.
The issue for this man was following Jesus. Yes, loving family and others is important, but not more important than loving and following Jesus. Delayed obedience was disobedience.
Do you have other priorities before your relationship with Jesus (your work, your hobbies, your spouse, your children/grandchildren, your house)? Are you SAYING you are a disciple of Jesus or are you BEING a disciple of Jesus?
Poem
Lists
Psalm 142
Trouble, fatigue
Traps, snares
Loneliness, exposure
Despair, weakness
Imprisonment, hate
Persecution
Not a great recommendation, LORD
Not a wooing call
Except for the priceless treasure, LORD
When You are our all in all
Access, mercy
Protection, guidance
Concern, strength
Life, freedom
Goodness, righteousness
Relationship
