Do You Mean It?

Daily Reading:  Matthew 8 

And 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.”  (Matthew 8.20) 

Devotional Thought: Yesterday we read about hypocrisy.  In Matthew 8, today’s Bible chapter, we find a subtle expression of it.  Jesus was approached by a man insisting, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”  Jesus saw inside the man’s soul and said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8.20).  

It is so easy to say we are followers of Jesus, but it is so much more difficult to really follow him.  Jesus left all the comforts and safety of heaven to come to earth to be our Savior.  He divested himself of all heaven’s glory in order to walk among us and show us the way to heaven.  The King of kings had no palace on earth.  He had no mansion to which he resorted at the end of every day.  He wandered over the face of the earth looking for someone who would invite him in, someone who would accept him.  

When we follow Jesus that reality become ours.  No, we don’t become homeless, but we do give up all claims on this world’s acceptance.  Some people teach a religion of prosperity and success, but Jesus told this man (and others as well) that following him did not mean gaining more goods, more prestige, more success, more power.  When we follow Jesus we may discover that we, too, have no place to lay our heads!  Like Jesus, we may be rejected and despised.  Like Jesus, we give our lives away, serving the needs of others.  But also like Jesus we have treasure in heaven!  Do we really mean it when we say we will follow him wherever he goes?  May God give us grace to mean it! 

Prayer: Lord, I will follow you wherever you go!  Oh, help me to not only say it, but to mean it; help me to live it; help me to keep on living it.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 86:11-17

11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.

15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.

17 Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.