My Thoughts for the Day – October 14, 2024
Luke 9: 57-62 (ESV) As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another, he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus told him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
What cost is anyone claiming to be a follower of Jesus Christ willing to pay? What cost is anyone willing to pay by not looking back, recalling all past indiscretions? What cost is anyone willing to pay for looking back and then forwards as if tomorrow is today, and then when tomorrow does arrive, there is looking back and wondering why today isn’t any different than yesterday?
When Peter saw someone or something walking on water toward the boat, Peter and the others thought they were seeing a ghost. Then Jesus called out, saying it was him, and Peter realized Jesus was extraordinary. So, Peter asked the lord if he could come to him. Jesus said come, and Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus (Matthew 14:22-32). Peter’s walk on the water was short-lived because he took his eyes off Jesus, became fearful, and sank beneath the waves. Peter cried out to Jesus: save me, lord, and Jesus reached out his hand and rescued Peter.
If we are following Jesus, looking back is like Peter taking his eyes off Jesus while walking on water to Jesus and nearly drowning. What I see here is that even when we do look back or away and lose sight of Jesus, we often find ourselves in trouble, and if we cry out to Jesus to save us, he will reach out and take hold of us, rescuing us from our wandering away from him.
Why dwell on past unfinished tasks instead of looking forward? Why take our eyes off Jesus just to get our way? Why do you feel it necessary and urgent to care for matters at home before continuing with Jesus? Why prioritize tying up tidy up loose ends over following Jesus? Why doubt instead of being faithful, keeping our eyes on Jesus instead of the cares of this life?
As Jesus said in Matthew 14:31, “O you of little faith, why do you doubt?”
Mike Kovach
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