Clearing the Temple 1

Luke 9:59-62

It can be discouraging to see how low attendance is in worship. And if you were able to ask each person who is not there why they are not there you will usually get some good answers. They forgot. They overslept. They were out late the night before. We have things to do.

The reason for not attending church is not important. What is important is that we demonstrate to God where are priorities are by what we do. We can talk a good game and give good reasons for not being able to serve the Lord, but God knows what our motivation is.

In this passage from Luke Jesus deals with some people who might want to be his followers. What does Jesus urge in verse 59? Why won’t the person follow? What does the next person say in verse 61? What is Jesus’ response?

Jesus summons one man to be a follower, but that man wants to delay the commitment until after his father’s funeral. Then Jesus tells him to let the dead bury the dead. What kind of unfeeling comment is that?

The next person volunteers to follow Jesus, but can’t come immediately because he wants to say his good-byes to his family. To that Jesus explains that anyone who puts his hand to the plow is not fit for serving the kingdom of God. At first glance Jesus seems a bit hard-hearted in this little segment of the gospels.

But from what we know of Jesus we can assume that there is good reason to what he is saying to all of those who claim to be willing to follow Jesus. It is very likely the man waiting to bury his father has a father who is still alive and well. It is very likely that the one who wants to say good-bye to his family will never have the courage to follow Jesus once he sees his loved ones again.

The point to these encounters is not that Jesus doesn’t care about the lives of people. The point is that Jesus can see through all the excuses people make for not becoming followers of Christ.

Every one of us can have plenty of reasons for not doing what we ought to do in our walk of faith. The reasons are not important. What is important is that we commit ourselves to serving God and that we not allow any excuses to get in our way.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you commit to becoming a follower of Christ?

Pilate Views the Cross 5

Luke 9:59-62

In an episode of “The Andy Griffith Show,” Sheriff Andy Taylor tries to offer a job to a vagrant. The vagrant explains that he can’t do hard work because he has a bad leg. When offered a job at a desk he explains that sitting too long makes his leg stiffen up. When offered a night watchman job he explains that the night air aggravates his rheumatism. In the end it is clear that the man simply doesn’t want a job at all.

In his ministry Jesus called some people to follow him, to become one of his disciples, to do ministry with him. In this passage how does the first man respond? How does Jesus respond to the second?

At first blush Jesus may appear hard-hearted in these encounters. Has he no sympathy to the one who has lost his father? Has he no compassion for the one who would like to see his family one last time?

Jesus is sympathetic and compassionate, but what we have here is Jesus seeing through the excuses being made. He knows that the one who was called and the one who claims to want to follow are not dedicated enough to become true disciples.

The excuses seem valid to us, but the point of the whole encounter is that any excuse will do for the person who will not assume the responsibility of being a true disciple of Christ.

Each of us is summoned to do the work of the kingdom of God. Each of us is summoned to be our brother’s keeper. Each of us is called to be committed to doing the will of God, serving in whatever capacity we can.

But most are too eager to find any reason at all not to do the work. We allow our job responsibilities, our family obligations and our financial status to keep us from doing what we are called to do. All are valid excuses, and I am not encouraging anyone to abandon the responsibilities of their livelihood or their family. Nor am I encouraging anyone to put themselves into poverty.

But the question is, when will we accept the call of Christ? When will we accept the responsibility of doing God’s work? When will we stop making excuses and start serving the Lord?

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you avoid making excuses to not do God’s work?