What Jesus Looks For

When Jesus said, “Follow me” – he wasn’t looking for a verbal response; he was looking for action. And he still is.

“Yes, but…” is how most of us respond to Jesus. We’ve got more pressing, urgent issues to attend to “first.“ That’s fine. Jesus isn’t going to write you off. But he knows that with that kind of response he cannot count on you.

“Yes, but…” rarely, if ever, follows through in following Jesus. I’m not talking about salvation. I’m talking about true discipleship— The kind that requires instant action. Jesus isn’t asking us to bail on our family responsibilities. But the commands he gives us, just has he did these three men (in the passage below), reveal our true motives.

As one commentator wrote, “There is a cost to following Jesus. Each one of us must be ready to serve, even when it requires sacrifice.”*

The church of Jesus Christ has become way too comfortable, way too sacrifice-averse. Too risk-averse.

How about you? Have you played it safe? Comfortable? Where is Jesus calling you to follow him that you keep flinching about. Keep responding yes, I will, but… Just as soon as… If I can first just…?

Following Jesus is not for the faint of heart. Hard words. Hard truth. Hard to live it. But Jesus is worth it.
He’s worth everything.

I love y’all!
xo P♥️

The Cost of Following Jesus (Luke 9:57-62)

  • 57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
  • 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
  • 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”
  • But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
  • 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
  • 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
  • 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”