MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12
Luke 9:57-62
Matthew 28:18-20

“Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations…”

FIT FOR THE KINGDOM

Are you ready to sacrifice for Jesus? A certain man wanted to follow Jesus, but He warned that He did not have a comfortable place to live in and if the man should follow he must be willing to make sacrifices. Jesus indicated that He was living a sacrificial life even unto death, likewise Christians must do the same. After His death, He commissioned His disciples to go till the ends of the world to preach the gospel (Matt 28:18-20).

Are you ready to preach His Kingdom? When another was asked by the Lord to follow Him, he asked for permission to go and bury his dead father first. Jesus rebuked him. The phrase “let the dead bury their dead” indicated that he should leave all worldly entanglements and practices. Followers of Jesus must be willing to be separate from the world’s affairs and concentrate on co-labouring with God in the salvation of men. It is not that Christ’s followers are to be unconcerned for their loved ones. The Bible teaches us to be kind and good in every relationship and to show piety at home. However, we are not to use these as excuses not to do our duty to God.

Are you ready to labour for Him? The third one, although he desired to follow, was still attached to his kindred and former lifestyle. Jesus told him to leave everything and follow him. For those who have decided to follow Jesus, there is “no turning back, no turning back.”

Matthew Henry said, “If we mean to follow Christ, we must lay aside the thoughts of great things in the world, and not reckon upon making any thing more than heaven of our religion, as we must resolve not to take up with any thing less. Let us not go about to compound the profession of Christianity with secular advantages; Christ has put them asunder, let us not think of joining them together; on the contrary, we must expect to enter into the kingdom of heaven through many tribulations, must deny ourselves, and take up our cross.”

THOUGHT: Am I ready to forsake everything for the sake of Jesus?
PRAYER: Father in heaven, help me to serve Thee with all my life.