“And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid
them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man,
having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of
God.” (Luke 9:61-62 KJV)
Despite my years in the ministry, occasionally I get a bur under my saddle
and begin to consider what it would be like if I had not gone into the
ministry. Where would my family be if I had continued in the business world?
What would our financial standing be if I had continued working in the financial
services industry?
and begin to consider what it would be like if I had not gone into the
ministry. Where would my family be if I had continued in the business world?
What would our financial standing be if I had continued working in the financial
services industry?
Such wistful considerations are dangerous and my wife Bobbie senses that
immediately. When I bring up the subject, she immediately reminds me of our
decision to follow Jesus wherever he would direct and whatever he would ask us
to do.
immediately. When I bring up the subject, she immediately reminds me of our
decision to follow Jesus wherever he would direct and whatever he would ask us
to do.
“We made our decisions based on our understanding at the time along with
our feeling that the Holy Spirit was directing us,” she says, “Stop second-guessing
yourself.” She is right of course and I certainly don’t want to retrace 37 years
and reboot my life and ministry, yet a change or two might be a good thing. J J
our feeling that the Holy Spirit was directing us,” she says, “Stop second-guessing
yourself.” She is right of course and I certainly don’t want to retrace 37 years
and reboot my life and ministry, yet a change or two might be a good thing. J J
“You can’t go back!” How many times have I said those words to people over
the years? Following Christ is a marvelous adventure! Putting the past behind
and committing to the future with him . . . that’s the point.
the years? Following Christ is a marvelous adventure! Putting the past behind
and committing to the future with him . . . that’s the point.
For me it is not a desire to plough another
field of endeavor. Instead, I simply wonder occasionally if those other fields
might have been easier to plough. But in the final analysis I have decide to
follow Jesus and even if no one joins me, I’m still going to follow him . . .
wherever he leads me or whatever he asks of me. I never want to become unfit
for his kingdom.
field of endeavor. Instead, I simply wonder occasionally if those other fields
might have been easier to plough. But in the final analysis I have decide to
follow Jesus and even if no one joins me, I’m still going to follow him . . .
wherever he leads me or whatever he asks of me. I never want to become unfit
for his kingdom.
Dear Father, thank you for leading me into
your kingdom. May my commitment to follow Jesus never fail. I pray this in the
name of Jesus. AMEN
your kingdom. May my commitment to follow Jesus never fail. I pray this in the
name of Jesus. AMEN
Be strong and courageous today in your
commitment,
commitment,