WorldField.net

Phil. 2:5-11

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus teaches us to humble ourselves, to take the lower place. He teaches us to help others who can not repay us. When we do this we are most like Jesus! He humbled Himself to die on the cross and saved us when we had no means to repay Him.

“And as He went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, it happened that they watched Him.” vs.1 Every dinner invitation is not for a kind purpose. They were watching Jesus to trap Him in some word or deed. A man with dropsy was there. Would Jesus heal him on the sabbath day? This man had severe edema, most likely caused by a defected heart. Jesus would heal this man and send him on his way. However surrounding Jesus were also men with spiritual hearts that were sick. Their hearts were surrounded with the fluid of malice, pride, arrogance, hatred and self righteousness. They were rejecting Jesus the Messiah. They wanted the seat of honor. They rejected Jesus because He called for repentance and faith. He accepted anyone who would turn from their sins and trust and follow Him. What about their honor, their good works, their study of the law? Lk.13:5 Jesus said, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 1P.5:5-7 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” In the story of the wedding feast, Jesus is calling us to take the lower place. The place of humility, the place of understanding we are not worthy because of our sins. If we take that place the master of the wedding feast will raise us up. 1Jn.1:8-9 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” To receive your place of honor at the wedding feast of the Lamb; You must confess your need and receive the gift of salvation from the Bridegroom.

“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” vs.13,14 We are to follow the example of our Master. He saved us when we had nothing to repay Him! In spirit, we were poor, cripple, lame and blind. All around us are broken people. Their lives are a mess. These are the ones for whom Christ died. These are those who should be invited to come to the wedding feast. God forgive us when we are like the Pharisees! Trying to find fault. Trying to trap others. Our hearts surrounded by the fluid of malice, arrogance and pride. May we fall down in the presence of our Holy God and cry; Lk. 18:13 “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” May we humble ourselves so that God can lift us up. May we see others the way God sees us; A poor sinner in need of the love and mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. To God be all the glory. Amen.

Fear God! Heb. 12:14-29

“Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” vs.28,29 To fear God seems to be out of style in our age! Reverence for God, respect for God have no place in our profane society. Since we have no fear of God, we have also lost respect for marriage, parents, and even for life itself. Rm. 3:15,18 “Their feet are swift to shed blood.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 2Tim. 3:2 “For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and unholy.” When man is lost from God; He is lost from his purpose and place in the universe. He can not place the right value on the things of life because He does not know the God of life! The Living God has revealed Himself through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. That revelation is recorded in His word the Holy Bible. If we are to come to Him; we must come in the way He has ordained!

Heb.12:22-24 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, … and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. Jesus is the only way to the Father. 1Tim. 2:5-6 “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” Read Jn.14:6 and Acts 4:11,12. The blood of Jesus is far better than the blood of Abel’s sacrifice. Abel’s sacrifice was but a shadow of the much better One that was to come. Jn.1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” 1P 1:18-19 “Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” Let us give thanks for the blood of Christ that washes us from all our sins.

When God gave the Law it was a fearful event. The law had no power to save but it made us aware of our sinful hearts and lives. Ex.19:18-19 “Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.” The giving of the law in such a way put the fear of God in the hearts of the people so they would be afraid to sin against God. However because of their sinful hearts they could only live in fear of God a short time. One day Jesus will return to earth with a sight far more fearful and awesome! “At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” vs.26 2 P 3:10-14 “The heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. … But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” Only through the blood of Jesus can we be at peace with God. Only His blood can wash us from every spot and stain. Let us humbly confess our sins to God and cry out for the mercy of God. Let us confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. Rm.10:9 “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” To God be all the glory. Amen.

Seek His Kingdom! Lk. 12:22-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.” vs.22, 23 These words from our text seem impractical in a time such as ours. We have problems with our economy, problems with our public and private debt, and a political world very much in turmoil! Can these words be for us? Can we really survive if we follow the words of Christ? Let us remember the words of the prophet. Isa. 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” May we understand and obey!

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” vs.32 Our lack of fear and worry is based on our relationship with God. He is the Good Shepherd who leads, cares and provides for His sheep. Isa. 40:11 “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jn.10:11 Being one of His sheep; We must follow the Shepherd. Jn.10:27-28 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

Notice “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” As His children we are taught to pray. “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” We have a Heavenly Father. He will care and provide for His children. Our Heavenly Father will give what is good for His children. He will never forsake them. As His children; We must trust and obey our Father. He feeds the ravens. He clothes the lilies. Will He fail to feed and clothe His children? Surely He will care for them!

“It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” We have a Good Shepherd. We have a loving Heavenly Father. We also have a King! Rev.19:16 “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” His kingdom will fill the heavens and the earth! It is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom. We are to pray. “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” As His subject; We must obey the will and commands of our Sovereign, our King.

“Fear not!” The Shepherd will lead and care for His flock. Follow the Shepherd. “Fear not!” Your Heavenly Father will feed and clothe His children. Trust and obey the Father. “Fear not!” Your King has a special place of service for you in His kingdom. Serve faithfully in His kingdom. “O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” vs.28-32 To God be all the glory. Amen.

Your Treasures in Heaven!Luke 12:13-21

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” vs.15 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required 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.” vs.20,21 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Col.3:5 We have the clear warning of Jesus; “Be on your guard against all covetousness!” The Apostle Paul tells us covetousness is idolatry. There is no amount of money or things that can take the place of Almighty God! Instead of being greedy for a physical inheritance; we should be seeking our inheritance in the kingdom of God. We need to seek richness in our relationship with Christ.

The one who is rich toward God is moving toward his inheritance in heaven. All others are each day moving away from their so called treasures. Lk. 12:33-34 “Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The faithful saint who supports the work of God all through their life, with their gifts, prayers and spirit filled living is moving toward their great treasures in Heaven. The fool, who lives only for self and this life will leave all their treasures!

We are told to guard against all covetousness. Without God nothing can satisfy the longing of the human heart. We were made for God and His kingdom. When we know God as our Father through faith in Jesus Christ; When we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God; When we are serving in our place in the kingdom of God; then we are really joyful. The passing pleasures of this life can not last long. Ecc.1:8 “All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.” We must live by God’s grace with eternity in view. God said to the rich man, “Fool! This night your soul is required 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.” vs.20,21 One day our soul will be required. Anything we have here will be left behind. We are moving toward Jesus, toward heaven, toward our treasure in heaven.

Notice our rich man thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” How different our store would be if He had prayed. Lord, what would you have me do with all your crops? 1Tim. 6:17-19 “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. How is your foundation for the future? Have you been saved by God’s grace? Do you have an inheritance in the kingdom of God? Are you investing your treasures of time, talent and money in the kingdom of God? “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” vs.15 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Lk.12:34 May we love the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart and invest in the kingdom of God. To God be the glory. Amen.

Prayer and the Holy Spirit? Lk.11:1-13

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” vs.13 This seems to be a strange way to end a teaching on prayer. I thought and prayed over the meaning of this verse and why Jesus ends all these beautiful verses on prayer with these words. I believe that I now have some understanding which I share with you. We pray, Our Father… We ask, seek and knock but the One we need more that all others is God, Himself. The very best He can give us is the Holy Spirit! Our coming to know God as Father is because we are born of the Spirit. Giving honor to His name is only possible because of His Spirit within us. Doing His will is only possible because of the power of the Holy Spirit in us.

God gives us so much more! We ask for comfort. He give those who ask the Comforter! We ask for direction and He gives us the One who guides us into all truth. We ask for bread and we are given the Bread of Life. We ask for strength and He gives us the Spirit of God Almighty! We pray, Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. The Holy Spirit of Christ, who prayed on the cross, “Father forgiven them;” gives us the power to forgive those who sin against us. “How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” What a wonder prayer to pray! Father, please give me the Holy Spirit. Give me the gift of salvation, the gift of the Holy Spirit! Wash me from every sin by the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Live within me, Holy Spirit.

We are told to ask, seek and knock. “And I say to you, Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you.” vs.9 As children of the Heavenly Father we will ask for many things some are good but others are foolish. Our Father who truly knows what is best will give us what we need. As we keep asking, seeking and knocking we get to better know our Father and His will and His nature. We come to find that all that we need is found in Christ. All that we need the Father gives us in the Holy Spirit. Savior, Comforter, Guide, Help, Strength, Wisdom, Peace, Eternal Life, Healer, Refuge, Shield and Provider. Jn. 16:13-15 “However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears, He shall speak. And He will announce to you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will receive of Mine and will announce it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and will announce it to you.” Ask! Seek! Knock! And we can only come to Him because He draws us. We can only ask of Him because He is calling us. What a loving God! He loves us, calls us, seeks us and gives us the gift of faith, when we are dead in our sins. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” vs.13 All glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Choose the Best Part! Lk.10:38-42

“Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” What was that good part? Why did Jesus have a loving rebuke for Martha? Martha had received Jesus into her house but had no time to listen to Him or visit with Him or learn from Him! Martha had too much work to do for Jesus to waste her time sitting at His feet listening to His words! The more time she though of all the work she had to do, the more angry she got with her sister and with Jesus. Finally her words revealed her heart. She came to Jesus and standing over Him she said, “Lord, do you not care?” Think of what she is saying! Lord, You do not care about me! Lord, You do not care about this injustice; I’m doing all the work! My sister is not doing anything important! And then Martha tells the Lord of Glory what He should tell someone else to do. “Tell her to help me!”

Think of Martha’s surprise when she received a loving rebuke from Jesus. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Do you understand? Mary had chosen the path of grace and faith. Martha was walking the path of works. Martha had started well. “Martha received Him into her house.” But she had no time to listen to Him, learn of Him, get to know Him. Rm. 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” If she had first taken time to sit at His feet as a disciple and get to know Him; She would have never said, “Lord, do you not care?” For she would have known His very nature is Love. She would have never told Jesus what He the Lord should tell someone else to do. Rather she would have said, Lord, what would you have me to do? How like Martha we are when we try to make ourselves right with God by our own works. “Martha was upset about all the work she had to do.” She had the wrong view of God’s love, justice and righteousness. She was ready to take on herself the right to tell Jesus the rules and commands He should give to others!

Mary chose the path of grace, faith and love. Mary chose the path of discipleship. “Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.” This was the place of a disciple. This was a place of listening and learning. This was a place where the word of God could reveal the nature and character of Jesus and plant faith in the heart and mind. Rm. 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Mary would rise from the feet of Jesus ready to serve Him with a joyful heart! Eph 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, … For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

How different that day would have been if both sister had set at the feet of Jesus! Would the meal have been late? Would the disciples had said, “When are we going to eat?” It is likely! But think of the joy the sisters could share as they worked together with a heart full of love for God and man. Did Martha come to have faith? Jn.11:25-27 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” Today you are hearing the word of God, the word of Christ will you repent, believe, confess and be baptized? Will you receive the gift of salvation? Rm.10:9 “Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Choose the best part which can not be taken away! Choose Christ! Amen.

Our love for God and neighbor will never be enough to measure up to the law. We ourselves are in need of the mercy and grace of God. That is one of the purposes of the law, to show us where we fall short of God’s perfect holiness and love. We often are very unlike the Samaritan! We are afraid to get involved, unwilling to pay the cost in time, money, inconveniences and the cost in social standing. Often caring for “the least of these” - the stranger, the alien, the poor, the sick, the widow and fatherless does not bring the approval of men. If we are honest with ourselves, the law shows us we are not capable in our own strength to live up to its demands.

The mercy, grace and forgiveness we ourselves need comes from trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. This brings the miracle of forgiveness, new life and God’s power through the Holy Spirit. With Christ living in us through the Holy Spirit; we can love God! We can show love and mercy to the ones in need. The Apostle Paul wrote of this miracle. Gal. 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” When the God of mercy has shown us mercy. When the God of mercy lives in us and through us. We can have love for God and love and mercy for our neighbor.

We live in a time where there are so many things to turn our hearts away from loving God and loving neighbor. In the weakness of our sinful flesh we will never measure up. But the good news is the death of Christ for our sins makes it possible for us to live out love for God and neighbor. In our day many are turning away from the God revealed in the Bible. They want a god who will meet all their needs but make no demands for holy living. The love of many for the neighbor grows cold. May hearts harden toward the neighbor. Looking out for number one seems to be the order of the day. Christians need to remember we have a Heavenly Father who is the God of Mercy. He will not forget His children! He will provide for our needs and give us more besides to care for our neighbor in need. “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8 Remember we are most like our Heavenly Father when we are showing forgiveness, mercy, love and grace to our neighbor. He gave it to us as a gift. We are to pass His gift to others. “The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.” Ps. 147:8,9 Go and love God and your neighbor by the power of His Holy Spirit living in you. 1Chron. 29:11-13 ” Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.” Amen.

The Lord appointed seventy others and sent them out to preach the word of the kingdom of God. He sent them out because He is the Lord of the harvest and the harvest is great and there is a need for more laborers in His harvest field. He gave them authority to heal the sick and to cast out demons. “Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.” vs. 8, 9 They had great sucess and returned with rejoicing. Jesus rejoiced with them saying, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” vs. 18

Jesus then began to teach them the most important lesson they needed in their ministry. “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” vs. 19, 20 How wonderful it must of been for the disciples to pray for the sick and to see them be healed. How wonderful to preach the word of God and see the demons flee at the authority of the word of God. “The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” vs. 17 As wonderful as it was to see Satan fall like lightning from heaven; As wonderful as it is to have authority over all the power of the enemy; The greatest miracle of all is that our names are written in heaven. “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” vs. 20

“Your names are written in heaven!” Rejoice! Just think of it. Your name has been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life! These had repented at the preaching of John the Baptist, the disciples or Jesus Himself. They had believed that Jesus was the Messiah. They had been baptised. They were following Jesus. They were serving Jesus. They were born again! Their names were written in heaven. What about you? Have you repented of your sins? Have you confessed with your mouth, Jesus is Lord!? Have you believed in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead? Have you been baptised? Has your name been written by God in heaven? Today can be your day of salvation! Today the greatest miracle of all can be yours. You can be born again! Your sins can be forgiven. You can be set free from all the power of the evil one. Your name can be written in heaven. All the angels in heaven will rejoice when they see that your name has been written in the book of life. Lk. 15:10 “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Think with me for a moment of all the sins you and I have committed. The blood of Jesus washes us clean from every sin! 1Jn. 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. This is indeed the greatest miracle that any of us will ever know. Paul said, Jesus Christ came to save sinners and I am the Chief of sinners. The song writer, John Newton said, “Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind but now I see.”

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Because of God’s saving grace. Rejoice that your sins are forgiven. Rejoice that you have eternal life. Rejoice! You are a sons of God! May we never forget the glory of what Christ has done for us on the cross. Rejoice that your names are written in heaven! To God be all the glory. Amen.

Taking Up the Cross! Lk. 9:51-62

Lk. 9:23 “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” There are many reasons that people do not welcome, receive or follow Jesus. We think the cost is too high and the pain is too great to follow Jesus. Let us not forget the words of our Lord. Lk. 9:24-25 “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” Jesus “steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.” vs.51 Jesus set His face to go to the cross. If we would follow Him; it will require a cross! We must keep looking to Jesus. We must follow Him. Heb.12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” By God’s grace and power let us embrace the cross so that we may receive the crown!Today we look at some who did not welcome Jesus. The Samaritans of a certain village refused to welcome Jesus because of religion and cultural prejudice. Many today because they are raised in false religions refuse to welcome Jesus or to even consider His love and sacrifice for them. They are kept in darkness because of hatred and fear. Some will not follow Jesus because to follow Jesus we must love those whom He loves. James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven on these Samaritans. Jesus was patient with them. One day many of them would see the light of His love and believe. Act 8:12 “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Act 8:25 “And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”

Next we see a man who would follow Jesus wherever He went - as long as it did not cost him too much and he did not have to give up much. vs.58 And Jesus said unto him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” This is the last we hear of this would be disciple!

We meet another who would answer the call to follow Jesus but not just yet! He said to Jesus, Lord permit me first to take care of my business then when that is over I will come and follow you. Many say I want to follow Jesus but not yet. The call to salvation comes today. The call to discipleship comes today. Most who harden their heart and say later, not now, will not come to Christ!

We see one more who would not follow Jesus. He loved the things of this world more than Jesus. vs.62 Jesus answered, “Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn’t worth a thing to God’s kingdom!” To follow Jesus we must fix our eyes on Him. We must come to love the ones He loves. We must be willing to leave those closest to us. We must love Him first. Because He first loved us. We can’t keep looking back. We must look forward to the cross and the crown!

Drop your prejudice, hatreds and fears. Look to Jesus. Fear not the cross with its high cost. Look to the eternal reward. Think not to follow Christ later. Today is the day of salvation! Do not look back to the things of this world. They are all passing away. Fix your eyes on Jesus! Take up the cross daily! Follow Him! Ph. 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:” To God be all the glory. Amen.