They are Not Your Excuse

Warriors Arise: April 1, 2024

Matthew 8:21 & 22 Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Ok, I have never recognized this before. I thought this was someone who was listening from the crowd and ready to sign up to be a disciple, but instead it is "another of His disciples". Since he was already a disciple of Jesus, he was there for the teachings and miracles. However, he is not necessarily completely in. So far, his response would make it seem that he was a disciple as long as it served him. It happened to be convenient for him up until now.

The way this disciples words are quoted, it is as if we are catching it in mid conversation. With Jesus' response, I am thinking He is asking for a greater commitment from the particular disciple.

Have you had someone pour into you, build you up, coach you well, and they ask for greater commitment. They ask you to give a little bit more to your practice time. It could be an athletic coach or piano teacher, dance instructor, gymnast coach, math teacher or boss. They see potential in you that you have not even tapped into. They are encouraging you to dig a deeper into your potential and make a commitment to make your practice and preparation time more intentionally, strategically and instructionally.

What did you do?

Did you intentionally schedule more practice time?

Were you strategic in developing your skills?

Did you apply what your coach, director, or instructor told you to work on next?

Jesus sees the potential in each one of us. He knows what we could do if we were to truly follow Him. This disciple was "following Jesus". However, he now wants to go back home. We have no idea if his father was ill or dying. You would think if he was dying, he would have asked Jesus to heal him. So, I am thinking he was using his father as an excuse to turn away from following Jesus. I believe this is why Jesus cuts to the chase and calls him out with his excuse.

Jesus didn't have time to waste. Either you are ready to commit to follow Him and God's plan for your life or you are going to turn back to the world but don't use your family as your excuse. The decision is your's and your's alone. They are an excuse, but not your excuse. It won't stand. The dog did not eat your homework.

Jesus knows how our faith and confidence will grow when we intentionally schedule time to build our relationship with Him and release His demonstrative love to others.

My Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I pray to be called out when I try to give an excuse that doesn't cut it. I pray I will truly evaluate what You have said to me. I will be ready to say yes. Especially when I have been given permission to follow You. When my family supports me in pursuing You, I pray I would not lose my nerve. I pray I would boldly step forward and take the next step in what You are teaching and training me to do. I want to be ready with my yes even if it scares me in Jesus' Name Amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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