Luke 9:57-62 Amplified Bible
Exacting Discipleship
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” 59 He said to another, “Follow Me [accepting Me as Master and Teacher].” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and [a]bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the [spiritually] dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and spread the news about the kingdom of God.” 61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord [as Your disciple]; but first let me say goodbye to those at my home.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things left behind] is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
It is time to get serious.
It is time to commit to a course of action.
Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, and He was showing us what it really means to be His follower.
Following Jesus is not always easy or comfortable.
It may mean giving up things that feel safe or easy in our lives so we can do what God asks us to do.
As we look at these verses, we are invited to think about how our own journey with Jesus means stepping out of our comfort zones and facing challenges for His sake.
This devotion reminds us following Jesus can be hard and may require major League life transforming sacrifices. Jesus teaches us that true devotion to Him is more than just words- It means being 100% willing to make difficult choices.
Luke 9:51-56
The cost of…
1. Surrendering personal plans.
Jesus shows us how important it is to let go of our own plans to follow God’s purpose. Jesus knew He would face suffering, but He chose to go to Jerusalem anyway, showing that He trusted God’s plan more than His own comfort.
The Disciples wanted to call fire down on the Samaritan villagers because they misunderstood Jesus’ mission- They thought justice meant revenge; but Jesus’ way is different; it’s about sacrifice and humility.
This teaches us that being a follower of Jesus sometimes means giving up our personal dreams and our comfort to do what God asks. True discipleship means trusting that God’s plan is much better, even when it’s hard or uncomfortable.
From a spiritual point of view, surrendering our plans is an act of faith.
It means trusting that God’s wisdom and love are greater than our own ideas.
Jesus shows us that real commitment to God involves making a choice to focus on His Kingdom rather than our own safety or comfort.
Surrender is not just giving up but actively choosing to follow God’s will.
It’s about copying Jesus’ example, even if it means facing difficulties or hardship.
When we do this, we join in God’s work of saving and transforming lives.
We find true purpose and fulfillment not in personal comfort, but in a life of sacrifice, service, and trusting God’s perfect plan.
Luke 9:57-58
The cost of…
2. Prioritizing God’s mission over worldly attachments.
Jesus shows us that following Him requires more than just words; it involves real commitment, even if it means giving up some comforts.
When someone wants to follow Jesus, Jesus points out that He doesn’t have a permanent home or treasured possessions like other people- He is focused on God’s mission.
This teaches us that putting God’s work 1st might mean letting go of things we treasure, like money, comfort, gourmet foods or living standards, social status.
True discipleship means changing what we care about so that God’s plans become more important than temporary worldly things that can distract us from what truly matters forever.
Jesus’ words also remind us that following Him can come with a cost.
We are called to let go of attachments to our possessions, comfort, or even our personal plans if they stand in the way of God’s purpose.
The Bible teaches that our main allegiance should be to God’s Kingdom, not worldly things.
This passage encourages us to examine what we value most, (whether it’s possessions, popularity, or comfort)to ask if we are 0.01% willing to give those up to do God’s work.
Being a true follower of Jesus means being ready to face down challenges and sacrifices, just as Jesus Himself did, so His mission can go forward in our lives.
Luke 9:59-60
The cost of…
3. Total devotion and uncompromising obedience.
Jesus is calling people to follow Him wholeheartedly.
He wants us to be completely committed, even if it means giving up things that are important to us, like comfort, status, or family.
Jesus’s words remind us that being His disciple isn’t about doing things just when it’s easy or convenient.
Instead, it’s about making a firm decision to put God’s Kingdom 1st in our lives, no matter what it costs. Jesus Himself showed this kind of total obedience to God, and He asks us to do the same- Being above and beyond willing to leave behind anything that might keep us from fully following Him.
From a spiritual point of view, this passage shows us that following Jesus is not always easy or without sacrifice.
It’s a calling to live a life of complete devotion- Giving everything we are to God’s will.
True obedience means choosing to follow Jesus even when it’s difficult or costly, just like Jesus obeyed His Father’s plan for salvation.
It’s about surrendering ourselves completely, (heart, mind, soul, strength) and trusting that the reward of following Jesus is worth any sacrifice we make.
This kind of devotion reflects Jesus’s own life and mission and shows us that genuine discipleship involves a deep commitment that goes above and beyond comfort and convenience.
Luke 9:61-62
The cost of…
4. Unwavering commitment despite distractions and setbacks.
Following Jesus requires a strong and steady commitment, no matter what distractions or setbacks we face.
Spiritually, it shows us that being His disciple means putting Him 1st, even when other things in life try to pull us away.
Jesus’ reply to the person who wants to follow Him but 1st wants to say goodbye to family reminds us following Jesus might require significant deeply personal sacrifices that push us out of our comfort zones.
Trusting in God’s plan helps us stay focused on what truly matters, even when life gets tough or tempting things try to distract us from our spiritual purpose.
This teaching also shows us that true discipleship is about staying faithful during difficult times.
Jesus Himself stayed committed to His mission, even when faced with suffering and temptations.
As His followers, we are called to be just as faithful, knowing that setbacks and challenges are natural part of our journey. Our love for Jesus and obedience to Him should keep us steady, trusting that God’s plan will win in the end.
Being fully committed to Jesus means giving Him our whole heart, choosing to follow Him beyond comfort and convenience, and remaining faithful no matter what obstacles come our way.
Closing Thoughts …
Jesus is asking us to follow Him with all our hearts, even when it’s hard and we have to leave our comfort behind.
His trip to Jerusalem shows us that being His disciple means we might have to make sacrifices, stay committed, and trust Him no matter what.
We are called to put God’s Kingdom 1st, instead of always choosing what’s easy and comfortable.
Remember, the good things Jesus gives us are worth any difficulty, and His grace will help us through every challenge.
Today, I want to invite you to answer Jesus’s call with a willing heart.
If you feel Him speaking to you, encouraging you to go beyond comfort and get closer to Him, now is the time to respond.
Whether you are taking that 1st step of faith or need to come back to Him, I encourage you to come forward and pray.
Ask Jesus to help and guide you.
Don’t wait- His love and plan for your life are waiting for you.
Come, and let’s walk together far beyond comfort and convenience into the wonderful, abundant life Jesus offers.
In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit …
Praying …
Psalm 16 Complete Jewish Bible
16 (0) Mikhtam. By David:
(1) Protect me, God,
for you are my refuge.
2 I said to Adonai, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good outside of you.”
3 The holy people in the land are the ones
who are worthy of honor; all my pleasure is in them.
4 Those who run after another god
multiply their sorrows;
To such gods I will not offer
drink offerings of blood
or take their names on my lips.
5 Adonai, my assigned portion, my cup:
you safeguard my share.
6 Pleasant places were measured out for me;
I am content with my heritage.
7 I bless Adonai, my counselor;
at night my inmost being instructs me.
8 I always set Adonai before me;
with him at my right hand, I can never be moved;
9 so my heart is glad, my glory rejoices,
and my body too rests in safety;
10 for you will not abandon me to Sh’ol,
you will not let your faithful one see the Abyss.
11 You make me know the path of life;
in your presence is unbounded joy,
in your right hand eternal delight.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 