The Love That Demands All
Luke 9:59-62 Jesus said to another man, “Follow me!” But the man said, “Lord, let me go and bury my father first.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the people who are dead bury their own dead. You must go and tell about God’s kingdom.” Another man said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus said, “Anyone who begins to plough a field but looks back is not prepared for God’s kingdom.”
Have you ever noticed how love always seems to cost you something? The more deeply you love someone, the higher is the price demanded of you. To love truly is to surrender – your comfort, your pride, your plans. And that’s confronting.
So, imagine being offered your dream opportunity – but the timing is downright awful. Perhaps it means moving tomorrow, or leaving your family, or missing a friend’s funeral, or walking away from everything familiar. You’d wrestle with that, wouldn’t you? We all would. And that’s exactly the tension that Jesus pressed into here.
Luke 9:59-62 Jesus said to another man, “Follow me!” But the man said, “Lord, let me go and bury my father first.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the people who are dead bury their own dead. You must go and tell about God’s kingdom.” Another man said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus said, “Anyone who begins to plough a field but looks back is not prepared for God’s kingdom.”
It sounds brutal, absolutely – but Jesus wasn’t dismissing love or family. He was exposing divided hearts. His love is so fierce, so complete, that it can’t settle for second place.
To follow Jesus means trusting that His call – however inconvenient, however painful, even – flows from His perfect love. Because when we put Him first in our hearts, in our lives, every other love finds its rightful place.
Sometimes obedience hurts. But the only way to truly live is to let His love lead – no turning back.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
Blessed by this devotion?
Share it with a friend!
Respond