But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matthew 8:22)
Devotional
Nothing can be compared to the supremacy of following Christ. Nothing has a higher priority. It isn’t that Christ doesn’t care about family and relationships. He cares immensely. He instructs us to honor our parents, love our families, and show compassion to all. Yet, we are called to an obedient faith. Christ must have the preeminence in our lives. There can be no one or nothing higher. The situation given here is an end-most example of forsaking all to follow Christ. Following Christ is a matter of priorities. We should ask ourselves, “What am I willing to surrender to follow Christ?” We can easily answer that question by asking ourselves the elementary question, “What does it take for me to miss the fellowship of His body, which we call church?” For some it takes only a sporting event or a bit of rain. What does it take for you to miss the assembly of the believers?
Thought For The Night
“Some people have the notion that following your spiritual gifts is spending the days and years of your life doing only those things which come naturally, easily, with no effort, discipline, or practice.” Wesley Tracy, Leadership Magazine
Evening Text
Matthew 8:22: But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Looking for Answers
Isn’t postponed obedience disobedience?
Doesn’t obedience lead to blessings?
Shouldn’t disobedience lead to repentance?
Evening Study Guide
Definition: Jesus’ response, “Let the dead bury their own dead,” demonstrates that following Christ is to be our greatest priority in life.
Reference: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me,” Matthew 10:37-38.
Application: Choose to love God first and foremost and you will love others much better than you do now.