A CALL TO COMMITMENT

A CALL TO COMMITMENT

READ:
Luke 9:57-62

No one, having put his hand
to the plow, and looking back,
is fit for the kingdom of God.
-Luke 9:62

Many health and fitness centers expect a flood of people to join every January who will come only a few times.  They don't mind if people pay the fee and never return.  But fitness trainer Jesse Jones takes the opposite approach.  If you sign up and don't show up, he will terminate your membership.  Jones says, "Save your money.  Come see me in a few months when you're serious.  My passion is not for another three-month payment...we're making people accountable to reach their goals."

In Luke 9:57-62, we encounter three people who told Jesus they wanted to follow Him, and all received what seem to be harsh replies from the Lord:  "The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" (v.58).  "Let the dead bury their own dead: (v.60).  "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (v. 62),  For each person, Jesus stated the sacrifice and commitment required to become His disciple.

A man I admire as a dedicated and sensitive follower of Christ says that Christians need to be "ready for radical commitment and change."  The Lord calls us not only to leave the status quo, but also to take that calling seriously by following Him. -David McCasland

Lord, I want to be sold out for You.  I want to
love You with my whole heart, soul, mind, and
strength.  Give me the power to be who You want me
to be, and to walk in Your ways.
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Following Jesus demands our all.

INSIGHT.
In demanding total commitment from His disciples, Jesus is not anti-family or opposing family responsibility.  He is not refusing a would-be follower proper closure-denying his deceased father a decent burial (vv.61-62).  Rather, Jesus is warning that following Him is not always easy or comfortable (v.58); it requires precedence over all other relationships (vv.59-61), single-minded focus, wholehearted pursuit, and undivided commitment (v.62).  Jesus' call to discipleship is urgent, total, and radical, with zero margin for delay, detour, or distraction.  Jesus modeled this radical commitment.  Despite knowing that betrayal, suffering, and death awaited, He "steadfastly  [or resolutely NIV] set His face to go to Jerusalem" (9:51).

Have a blessed day and weekend.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace