Devotional: Follow Me

“Then he said to another, “Follow me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” But he told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:59-60‬ ‭CSB‬‬

One August morning in 2020, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind the story of Jesus and the man who had to bury his father. Jesus had a simple invitation to people he met along the way, “Follow me.” 

A man replies to Jesus, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Admirable. Understandable. Of course, this seems like the right good to do. Yet Jesus’ response seems uncomfortable. “Let the dead bury their own dead...” 

Honestly, I have struggled with this. Jesus was known for his compassion. How could his response seem to be so lacking? If there was ever a valid reason to stay back, this was it, right?

Why this day? Well, my dad passed away a week before the shutdown. Nearly five months after his death, we had not yet had a proper service. My sister and I were going to spend the day remembering my dad. It was also three weeks before we departed across the country for a move God had called us into - a call to follow him.

I don’t know the outcome of that man in this story, but I do understand Jesus more now. Jesus’ call pierced into what this man valued in his life and challenged it. No matter the motive of the man, Jesus challenged it to move the man out of himself and into God’s world, to bring others into redemptive and resurrecting life.

“…but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Prayer: Father, help me to look past the valid or viable excuses I hold onto that prevent me from following you wholly. When you ask me to follow, may my response be, “Yes Lord.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.