Matthew 8:22
But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”
Do you find yourself distracted by dead things? Do old habits and desires keep your eyes off of Christ? If so, you must recognize that this tendency is more than a problem or some “dark season” in your Christian walk. It’s a sin. Jesus demands unconditional loyalty from anyone who desires to follow Him.
Many people have expressed interest in following Christ and some have even called Him Lord, but neither words nor desires will legitimize one as a follower of Jesus. Only the saving grace of the Father can regenerate the soul… and once it has, your loyalty to Jesus must outweigh all other allegiances.
I’m not asking you to skip any funerals this week because you’re a Christian. I am, however, challenging you to evaluate your priorities. What could possibly be more important than following Christ! What specific decisions have you made this week that place Jesus second in line? Do you feel that God was honored by those actions? Do you care?
Ephesians 2:1-5 reminds you that you too were once dead in your transgressions, but now, through God’s rich grace, you are alive in Christ. Shouldn’t that mean something? Jesus is speaking directly to you. “Let the dead bury their own dead. You… you must follow me.” Will you? What will that look like?