All of us need to make priorities in our lives. Our priorities become important when church and faith enter the picture. We must decide what is most important in terms of what we value. This Sunday's message will focus on the Gospel reading (Luke 9:51 - 62)) where there is the call to committed discipleship.
Here is a segment of the reading for consideration:
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:57-62
This degree of commitment might seem to show insensitivity to our daily responsibilities. After all, we do want to respect family even when it comes to doing a member's funeral! What Jesus is indicating is that we must realize the importance of doing the Lord's work. We are called to be followers of Jesus and are entrusted with a mission. If we continually get sidetracked by one obligation after another, we will fail to do the Lord's work. Can you imagine any business thriving if the owner had low expectations of his or her employees? All kinds of excuses could be made!
I believe what the words of Jesus highlight for us is to understand the high level of commitment expected of us in following our Lord. We have the most important mission in the world to do. It needs our full attention.
I would ask you to seriously ponder these words as you prepare for worship this Sunday.
Pastor Marty
Here is a segment of the reading for consideration:
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:57-62
This degree of commitment might seem to show insensitivity to our daily responsibilities. After all, we do want to respect family even when it comes to doing a member's funeral! What Jesus is indicating is that we must realize the importance of doing the Lord's work. We are called to be followers of Jesus and are entrusted with a mission. If we continually get sidetracked by one obligation after another, we will fail to do the Lord's work. Can you imagine any business thriving if the owner had low expectations of his or her employees? All kinds of excuses could be made!
I believe what the words of Jesus highlight for us is to understand the high level of commitment expected of us in following our Lord. We have the most important mission in the world to do. It needs our full attention.
I would ask you to seriously ponder these words as you prepare for worship this Sunday.
Pastor Marty
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