Subscription Lists
Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In Matthew Chapter 8 and at verse 19, as Jesus and His disciples were going on their way, a man comes up to Jesus and says, "I will follow you wherever you go."
That is always a dangerous thing to say to Jesus, especially when we do not know where He is going. That is as dangerous as becoming famous or becoming popular. Very few people indeed can handle and cope with these situations in life. It is like that dangerous prayer, “Use me”. God sometimes answers us and it can shock and surprise us when we see what he has planned for our lives. That calls for caution and wisdom.
We have to be careful as to what we say, and what we vow, and what we pray. God may take us seriously.
Jesus read this man's heart and replied, Animals have homes - birds have nests - I've nowhere. I have nothing to offer you in the material sense. I have nothing to offer you but a Cross.
You get this today - someone sees the blessings - the thrills - the excitements - and can rush up emotionally eager - without counting the cost.
You get people who on one day will promise you anything, and a few months later, you seldom see them. They vanish.
Some people reveal what appears like commitment – and they are emotionally emotional about it all - and then to your sadness, you discover it to be so SHALLOW - that at the first sight of a cross - of a demand - of a degree of real commitment - they are off. I have seen this far too often to know that this is real, and it is sore and wounding.
This man who runs up to Jesus has such a degree of self-confidence in his own ability. But - self - as we have seen - has to be crucified.
He thought he had so much to offer. He thought he would automatically be accepted as a candidate for discipleship - for ministry - for service - and Jesus’ reply must have shocked him.
This man behaved as though Jesus could not have managed without him.
This man had no idea as to what was involved in following Jesus Christ.
In verse 21, Jesus says to another man – “Follow Me” - but he said - let me first go and bury my father. Was this not a legitimate request? Yet Jesus answers - Let the dead bury the dead - but YOU go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.
Don't linger - don't wait - until the situation is right.
Do you think Jesus is a bit hard here? Jesus must have priority, and from the very beginning, Jesus lays down tough demands.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will not playing second fiddle to anyone.
Burn your boats and renounce self.
Yes, we must honour parents, but allegiance to parents, or to people in general, must never hinder nor prevent us from doing what Jesus Christ calls us to do.
Our first loyalty is always to Jesus.
Jesus does not want to see people's enthusiasm fizzle out and wane.
He is saying - "Eyes off earthly ties."
This man had reservations. He was reluctant to become a disciple of Jesus NOW. He wants to delay. Not today. To-morrow. Another day. When I am free, and when it is more convenient. To follow Jesus Christ means commitment NOW.
I don't know of anyone who has said, "To-morrow - next week - next year - some other day" - and then actually made the commitment to Jesus.
Jesus never used gimmicks to attract people.
He showed men and women from the very beginning that it would be tough and costly, and yet wonderfully rewarding too.
Verse 21. That man says, "I will follow you, but first…." Some always have something else to do, or somewhere else to go, or someone else to see. We are reading here of people with things to do before serving Jesus!
This man wanted to be a disciple on his own terms, Jesus will never permit that.
Jesus replied, “No-one who has put his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
We can want to look back - to see what might have been, if only - and Jesus says - "Don't" - not if you want to be useful and fruitful in the Kingdom.
When you look back - if you are ploughing - what you are presently doing will soon become crooked and twisted and distorted.
Don't look back, hankering after your former ways or your old habits, or yearning for and seeking previous favourite haunts.
Get a vision of Jesus Christ in front of you - leading you - showing you what lies ahead - and follow Him.
This is how we move forward - progress - advance - and mature as disciples.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Word from Scotland" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.