But, First...
“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 9:59-62 NIV
All too often we have those moments, or at least I do, when we are involved with a project or sitting on a committee and we get fired up about it. We’re ready to run through the wall to get it done... but suddenly we look around and find that maybe we’re the only one who is ready to jump... the only one ready to take this on... the only one ready to go.
Suddenly, so it seems, someone is throwing cold water on the idea or plan. All of a sudden, someone is concerned about the risk... or the cost... or the timetable... and less and less are willing to step out of the boat... less and less are willing to make it happen.
Suddenly, you find yourself standing alone... screaming out “Let’s Go!”
And just as suddenly, the mountain goes unclimbed...
… the ocean not swam...
… and nothing changes...
… nothing’s done...
… and the lost continue to be untouched...
… the Word unheard...
… the world unchanged.
In today’s passage, Jesus has called two men to join Him on His mission. He knew they had a passion for God and even for the work that He is calling them to do. Yet, something held them back. Something kept them from joining the team.
Some, as we know, followed Him with reckless abandon... living a life wide open for Jesus and changing the world forever.
And some, counted the cost... in this case, burying a father and saying goodbye to family... Some, like the rich young leader, allowed money and material things to get in the way... to get in between the Savior and the calling for their life.
What is it for us?
What is it that keeps us from following Jesus?
What is it that keeps us from leaving behind everything of this world... that keeps us from dropping our nets and leaving our boats behind, and answering Jesus’ calling for our life?
What costs are we counting?
Our house?
The comforts of life?
Stuff?
What is it that keeps our heart in that state of ambiguity... that cause us to say “Lord... This could be awesome... but first let me...”?
What ministry goes undone?
What people group goes untouched?
What man, woman or child lives on without hearing the Gospel?
Jesus is still calling out, “Follow me.”
Jesus is still saying, “ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...”
Jesus is still calling us out of the boat. What’s keeping us in it?
What’s causing us to respond, “Lord, first let me...”?
Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem
