Consider the consequences of what it will cost to follow Christ doing today the very same things that Jesus instructed the seventy-two and others in Luke 10. We are still called to do as the Lord instructs, are you prepared?
Pay particular attention to Jesus’s closing remark in verse 62.
Luke 9:57-62 (NIV)
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 22:11-14—And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he said to him, Friend, how came you in here not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
When Jesus calls (invites) you follow Him, will you have personal needs to be taken care of before accepting the call that are more important than following Jesus at the moment of His call? I was one of those who had other pressing things to do before accepting Jesus’s invite to follow Him. Later on, I was prepared to do follow no matter what but I was too late and everything I began to do was of my own accord and without Jesus. That was just like the person who was not attired properly for the wedding and was cast out and my situation then was pretty much the same—I was not properly prepared to be a servant of the Lord Jesus.
Another illustration that is similar is the story of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.
The meat behind this post:
“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom: Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”
Will you be ready when the Lord Jesus calls or will you have things to take care of beforehand? And going to church is not a calling unless you are the elder. Going to Bible studies is not a calling unless you are the teacher. Cleaning up around the church and helping maintain the building and grounds is not a calling and not a gift; it may be one of your love languages and not God’s love. His calling is to send you out to proclaim the Kingdom of God, to heal this sick, raise the dead, and cast out wicked daemons. I understand that many don’t believe this is for today and that we cannot do that anymore; all I have to say then is when did God die and all He has given us to do cease? The perfect has not come as some believe 1 Corinthians 13 implies; the perfect (Jesus Christ) will come again and at that time those things we are given to do in His name continues. Will you accept His call today or will be so caught up in the affairs of life, the traditions of men, fear or doubt that when the Lord calls you will not be willing to go.
Michael
22 December 2022
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