Luke 9:51-62 (NRSV)
Read Luke 9:51-62 on biblegateway.com
Verse 51When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. Verse 52And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; Verse 53but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. Verse 54When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" Verse 55But he turned and rebuked them. Verse 56Then they went on to another village.
Verse 57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Verse 58And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." Verse 59To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Verse 60But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Verse 61Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Verse 62Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Devotion
How many balls do you have in the air right now? You might be taking care of kids, trying to stay ahead of the weeds in your garden, packing for vacation, drowning in projects at work, planning for the fall—the list goes on. Even in the slower days of summer, there can be a lot to keep track of.
There's something to be said for getting busy, but the reality is, sometimes being busy gets to us. Then the to-do list seems unending and the interruptions in your life feel less like ministry and more like madness.
Jesus' words in Luke make it clear that truly following Jesus takes determination, commitment, focus. If you're feeling pulled in a million directions, stop and ask yourself: What does God really need me to do right now? The answer might surprise you—and it might help you decide what you can let go of.
Prayer
Jesus, when I am distracted, scattered, and harried, gently fill my lungs with breath and my heart with peace so I can focus on what you need me to do. Amen.