Consider the Cost
“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Matthew 8:18-22 (New International Version)
Was it because of the miracles they experienced as they watched Jesus do what no one had ever done before? Or was it because they wanted to be a part of something grand that could result in personal gain? The scripture is not clear but what is clear is that Jesus was able to see beyond the lip service of those who openly professed they would follow Him. In Matthew 8 you hear one say, “I will follow you wherever you go”. Do you think he really understood that there was going to be blood shed and a brutal death? Probably not. And then there is the one who said he would follow Jesus but he needed to address a family issue first (“bury my father”).
Jesus’ responses appear insensitive when in fact what His responses were conveying is a lack of understanding of those who would follow Him. Jesus told His disciples that “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24)”. The desire to follow Christ is a great goal but careful consideration must be given if your desire is sincere. Jesus was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. When you consider why Jesus came (because of sin) it is better understood that His life was not going to be a life free of stress or anxiety. Such is the life of those who follow Him. The difference is Jesus has overcome any of the worldly influences that seek to rob His followers of peace.
Hasty decisions are hurried decisions and are often not well thought out. They are knee jerk reactions without proper consideration of the cost. The day you received Christ as Savior you relinquished your life to live a life for Christ. I pray you counted the cost.
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