“He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
(Luke 9:59)
Reflection:
It is not easy to get our priorities right – particularly in a world which shouts so loudly at us with its needs, challenges, opportunities and temptations.
On the face of it the man’s response is so normal and socially acceptable. Yet Jesus is clearly saying that when His call to us comes nothing, and absolutely nothing, must be allowed to stand in our way, distract or delay us. At such a moment He is not dealing with worldly order and acceptable behaviour but with eternal life and eternal consequences. There is no comparison with the enormous privilege of being called by our Lord and God to live and travel with Him – trusting Him that both the moment of the call and the consequences are a part of His divine will and understanding.
The urgent message is ‘Don’t miss out!” Which is why elsewhere He would teach us to be radical in getting rid of anything in our lives that would stand between us and Him.
“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-30)
If there is any attachment in our lives that is causing us to hang back from the Lord then we face a choice. We cannot have both if our relationship with Him is to be what He desires and one that which will bring us joy and blessing.
Response:
Make the choice today – then ask the Lord for the love and strength to live it out.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus I do want You to be first and foremost in my life. Help me to walk away from the things that would separate us and instead look and cling only to You. Amen.
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The Soaring Eagle 