“The RoseBouquet”

Jesus was ready to leave the crowds that followed Him behind, and go off alone with His disciples. He told them to cross to the other side of the lake. Even so, a teacher of the law came rushing up to volunteer to follow Him wherever He would go.

Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (vs.20) In other words, Jesus warned the teacher, that to follow Him meant to be homeless. Foxes and birds had better homes than He.

The Bible doesn’t say whether this man followed Him or not, but there is no mention that he did.

Immediately after this one of Jesus’ disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus showed him where his priorities ought to be. Focus on following now, and let the dead bury their own dead. Some Christian preachers explain this as letting the spiritually dead take care of those traditional details.

Do you see the two lessons back to back here, about the cost of following Jesus as His disciple?

The first one is a warning not to expect a comfortable life with all the world’s amenities, nor even a place to call home. The second one is a pointed command to follow Jesus as a first priority, even over family obligations or natural affections.

There are other passages where our responsibility to support and care for our loved ones is stressed. (eg. I Tim. 5:4, I can vouch for the fact that God sometimes calls us to go home to care for our family, even though we don’t at first want to do that.

PRAYER: Oh Lord Jesus, my own grasp now is that when our devotion and obedience is to You first, we will know what to do about our family duties and affections. Help me to follow You even if it means being homeless this side of Heaven, and to put You ahead of everyone.

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. Watching your friend die is HARD, isn’t it? Ruthe handles it fairly well for her first time. You should read this book - you could learn from her.