In the drama of our salvation the final act opens with these simple words: “He set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51). It is this kind of focus that Jesus meant when He told the intended disciple to “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:60). Christian discipleship is not for the faint of heart. Neither is it for those with a dual allegiance. The response of Jesus sounds cruel until we realize that Jesus was not talking about funeral services, but divided loyalties. “Let me fulfill my obligation to my father,” in other words, “then after he’s gone, I will be free to follow you.” We all know that’s not good enough. In the language of the Old Testament, “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
Devotion to others, even those dearest to us, must come second to our devotion to God. In one of the really hard words of the New Testament, Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26). Don’t look back. To look back is to invite regret, foster nostalgia and live in retrospect. It’s to lament the fact that life changes and the good ole days are a thing of the past. It’s to second-guess yourself and wonder, “Did I make the right decision?” And to play the what-ifs: “What if I’d done this? What if I had not done that?” This is what a life of faith is all about – setting your sights on Christ and his kingdom and moving toward it, one step at a time; not letting the chaos of the world distract you, or the temptations of the world entice you, but striving by the grace of God within you to live after the example of Jesus, day by day.
Bible Passages for Daily Reflection
To be equipped for God’s work, we must study His word (Cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17), reflect on it daily and live. Ensure you share the fruits of your meditation with at least two people.
Sunday: Acts 17:1-34
Monday: Acts 18:1-28
Tuesday: Acts 19:1-41
Wednesday: Acts 20:1-38
Thursday: Acts 21:1-40
Friday: Acts 22:1-30
Saturday: Acts 23:1-35
Psalm of the Week: Psalm 146Prayer: O God, deliver us from every distraction from our Christian mandate through Christ our Lord. Amen!