25.2.25 Luke 9:57-62

Prepare

Father God give us hearts ready to receive your word and your love.

Read

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

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.”

Reflect

The Cost of Discipleship

In this passage, Jesus encounters three individuals who express a desire to follow Him. Each response from Jesus, emphasises the seriousness and sacrifice involved in being His disciple.

Verses 57-58: "The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

When the first person enthusiastically declares, "I will follow You wherever You go," Jesus responds with a sobering reality check. Discipleship involves leaving behind comfort and security. Jesus’ own life was one of constant movement, without a fixed home, demonstrating that following Him is not about material stability but about a deeper commitment.

Reflection: Am I willing to let go of my personal comforts and follow Jesus wherever He leads, even into uncertainty?

Verses 59-60: "Let the dead bury their own dead."

The second individual wants to follow Jesus but asks to first bury his father. While this seems like a reasonable request, Jesus challenges the man to prioritise the Kingdom of God above all else. This statement is not about neglecting family obligations but about recognising that the call to follow Jesus is urgent and transformative.

Reflection: Do I allow worldly concerns or delays to take priority over my commitment to Jesus?

Verses 61-62: "No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God."

The third individual expresses a desire to say goodbye to his family before following Jesus. Jesus uses the metaphor of ploughing to illustrate the need for single-minded focus. Looking back while ploughing results in crooked rows, symbolising a lack of commitment. Following Jesus requires an undivided heart and a forward-looking faith.

Reflection: Am I fully committed to following Jesus, or am I holding onto past attachments that divide my focus?

Be

Ask God to reveal areas of your life where you don’t put Him first.

Pray for courage to let go of comforts or obligations that pull you away from God’s call.

Ask for clarity to see His priorities above your own and the grace to trust Him fully.

"Lord, show me the places where my focus is divided. Help me to trust You with my whole heart, leaving behind what holds me back, so I can follow You with single-minded devotion."

Become

Ask for a heart that is teachable and open to being transformed by His Spirit.
"Lord, I invite You to shape my life according to Your will. Show me the areas where I resist Your work, and help me to surrender fully. Mould my desires, priorities, and actions so that they reflect Your Kingdom. Amen."

Do

Meditate for a moment on this thought:

Everything God has ever done has been out of His great love for us, He asks us to think of Him first in everything to help us experience His love and make wise choices which will be for our good. 

Practice

Inviting God into every area of our lives and every decision we make.