Category: Luke

  • Foxes – Obedience to Jesus

    Red Fox

    Early this morning, I heard the eerie sound of foxes yipping. It  reminded me of a time when I was driving home after dropping our eldest son, Kris, off at a camp/retreat center where he was working for the summer. Off to the side of the road, I saw a big red fox. 

    She appeared to be in good shape and had what looked like a rabbit in her jaws. I thought she was headed home to share the meal with her kits. Wherever she was going, she was making good time.

    That sound and memory of the fox stayed with me the rest of the night, and I awoke thinking of Jesus’ words.

    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, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet 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 his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62 ESV

    These are strange words from the Son of God, who came to save people. They seem almost harsh and uncaring. Do they mean that Jesus has no compassion?

    Not at all! It was His love for us, His compassion for us, that brought Him to earth as an infant. He came to rescue us. This story is designed to show how people often respond to God’s call on their lives. It has nothing to do with the largesse of Jesus’ heart.

    Like the men in this gospel account, we often declare that we are Jesus’ disciples. However, in this passage and others, He clearly tells us that following Him has a cost. Our faith and discipleship will be tested.

    Yet, when push comes to shove and we are called to follow, we offer up some excuse or another.

    I will follow you anywhere, Lord, as long as it is where I want to go and when I want to go. I will follow you anywhere, Lord, except there. I will do what you command, but surely, you do not really expect me to forgive “him,” do you? You do not really want me to give, do you? You cannot mean that I should be the one to give in.

    Are any of these sounding remotely familiar? The truth is that “No, Lord” is an oxymoron. The only correct answer is “Yes, Lord”.

    Following Jesus isn’t always easy. Anyone who says it is either doesn’t understand the truth or is a liar.

    Are you saying yes when He asks? Or are you making excuses?

    You will not lose your salvation if you say no, but you will miss out on many blessings. You will be the poorer for your reluctance.

    Until next time, may you be able to say “Yes” to all that He asks of you.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Check these posts out

    Sealed – guaranteed by the Holy Spirit

    Right belief and right living.

    Every member is important

    Goose feathers

  • Dust – chasing the wind

    dust storm

    Time is fascinating, or perhaps it is more correct to say  our perception of time amazes me. It seems to stretch or contract at will.

    I can remember a vehicle accident in the early 90s. A woman pulled out from a stop sign and tried to cross three lanes of traffic in front of me. Perhaps a few seconds elapsed between her stepping on the gas, my braking, and the impact. I remember the event as if it happened yesterday, and the whole thing seemed to stretch for many minutes.

    My high school friends are all nearing 70 now, but I remember them as teenagers. I have ministered to children who have children of their own.

    When I was younger, it felt like I had all the time in the world. In my early career days, it was on the go non-stop, and the world was a blur. Now that I have retired and struggle with health issues, I sometimes wonder how much I have left. Will I see my grandchildren married? Will I ever meet my great-grandchildren? Only the Lord knows, and He isn’t telling.

    Don’t misunderstand; I am not regretting older. I am not planning on shuffling off this mortal coil any time soon. I wouldn’t go back and redo it all even if I could. Certainly, I could correct some mistakes, but I’d just make others.

    I have no desire to be 18, 30, 40, or even 50 again. God has been good to me and always will be. When it comes my time, I know where I will be.

    None of us can recapture yesterday. None of us can capture tomorrow. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow never comes. A little cliche sounding? Perhaps, but true. We only have today to live.

    The world stretches out a long way behind us, an indeterminate period ahead of us. We have remembrances and hopes, and all can look forward to eternity in some place, either in heaven or hell. 

    Whether the days seem to last forever or blow by too quickly, we get one shot at this life, and this is it.

    It is no wonder that Solomon could say 

    I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 1:14 ESV

    The days come and go, and we often blow about like dust in the wind.

    Jesus told a parable,

    Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”  And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,  and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’  And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:13-21 ESV

    His point wasn’t that we aren’t to plan for the future or enjoy the fruits of our labor. We have limited days, which are best spent with our eyes on God. Don’t chase the wind.

    Looking back on our lives from eternity, we will see what we accomplished that blew away like dust and what endured.

    May the King use what you do today for his eternal glory. May it not blow away.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Living as a Christian in a divided world

    The gospel – the best news

    Why everyone knows even if they deny it

    Spoiled Springs – False teachers and living water