The Deliberate Disciple - Luke 9:57-62

Jesus encounters three would-be disciples. He tells the first one that being His disciple is not easy or comfortable because this world is not your home: "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head" (vs. 58). Jesus tells the second one that being His disciple takes precedence over every relationship and obligation: "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God" (vs. 60). To the third one Jesus says that deciding to follow Him is a lifetime commitment: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (vs. 62). Just as these three would-be disciples desired to follow Jesus based upon certain contingencies, we often want to be His disciple alongside all of our other commitments and obligations. Being Jesus' disciple requires a conscious decision and effort to make His will your will, to live your life according to His teachings, and to proclaim the reality of His present and coming Kingdom.