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My life is littered with the rubble of hobbies that I started with great excitement only to have that all that intrest dissapear weeks or months later.  Maybe you've had the same experience, enthusiastically jumping into something new, only to have your excitement fizzle out weeks later? Or perhaps you've held back from pursuing something meaningful due to fear of the unknown? Maybe you've wanted to make a change in your life, but the comfort of familiarity kept you rooted in place? If any of these scenarios resonate with you, you're not alone. These experiences mirror the challenges we face in our spiritual journey, particularly when it comes to following Jesus.

Luke's Gospel presents us with a fascinating encounter between Jesus and three individuals who express interest in following Him. Their responses, and Jesus' reactions, offer deep insights into what true discipleship entails. Let's take a look at these interactions and uncover the truths they reveal about our relationship with God.

The Enthusiastic Volunteer

As Jesus and His disciples were walking along the road, a man burst forth from the crowd, exclaiming, "I'll follow you wherever you go!" At first glance, this seems like an admirable response. After all, shouldn't we be excited about following Jesus? His teachings, His miracles, His compassion for the broken – there's certainly much to be enthusiastic about.

Yet Jesus' response is surprisingly subdued. He says, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Why does Jesus seem to discourage this man's excitement?

The truth is, discipleship is more than mere enthusiasm. Our excitement often fades when faced with challenges or monotony. Just as we quickly tire of new music or fashion trends, our initial fervor for spiritual matters can wane if not rooted in something deeper.

Moreover, this man's declaration reveals a lack of understanding about what following Jesus truly entails. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem – to face betrayal, suffering, and death. The man's confidence in his ability to follow "wherever" betrays a pride that hasn't grasped the cost of discipleship.

The lesson here? While enthusiasm is good, true discipleship requires a humble recognition of our need for Jesus, rather than a boastful assertion of our capabilities.

The Fearful Procrastinator

In the second encounter, Jesus directly invites a man to follow Him. The man's response? "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." On the surface, this seems like a reasonable request. Isn't honoring one's parents a commandment?

However, cultural context suggests the man's father wasn't actually dead. Rather, the man was essentially saying, "I'll follow you after my father dies – whenever that may be." His hesitation stemmed from fear of an uncertain future.

How often do we find ourselves in similar situations? We want to step out in faith, but our minds are clouded with "what ifs." What if I invite my friend to church and they reject me? What if I volunteer for this ministry and it doesn't work out? Fear of the unknown can paralyze us, preventing us from fully obeying God's call on our lives.

Jesus' response challenges this fear-based thinking: "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." It's a call to trust in God's provision and step out in faith, even when the future seems uncertain.

The Comfortable Compromiser

The third individual presents a mix of the previous two. He volunteers to follow Jesus but adds a caveat: "Lord, I will follow you, but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family." Again, this seems reasonable. Isn't it polite to say goodbye?

Jesus' response, however, cuts to the heart of the matter: "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." The issue isn't about loving family, but about being fully committed to following Jesus.

This man represents those of us who want to follow Jesus, but don't want our lives to change too drastically. We're comfortable with our current routines and relationships. We want to add Jesus to our lives without letting Him transform them completely.

True discipleship, however, requires wholehearted commitment. It's not about simply saying goodbye to our old life, but about inviting others into our new life with Christ. Think of Andrew, who immediately went to find his brother Peter after encountering Jesus. Or Philip, who brought Nathanael to meet the Messiah. Their response wasn't to simply bid farewell to their old lives, but to eagerly share their newfound hope with others.

The Heart of Discipleship

These three encounters reveal that true discipleship goes beyond initial excitement, overcoming fear, or maintaining comfort. It requires a transformed heart – one that's no longer focused on our own strength, our anxieties, or our desire for ease.

How does this transformation occur? By truly seeing Jesus for who He is. The enthusiastic man needed to see his own brokenness and desperate need for a Savior. The fearful man needed to recognize that Jesus is greater than all his fears and uncertainties. The comfortable man needed to understand that Jesus is a treasure worth leaving everything behind for.

As we reflect on our own lives, let's ask ourselves:

1. Where have I relied on my own excitement or abilities, rather than humbly recognizing my need for Jesus?

2. What fears are holding me back from fully following Christ?

3. In what areas of my life am I resisting change, clinging to comfort instead of embracing transformation?

The good news is that Jesus doesn't leave us to figure this out on our own. He invites us to fix our eyes on Him – the one who is greater than our pride, stronger than our fears, and more satisfying than any earthly comfort.

In the words of Peter, when faced with the challenging call of discipleship, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." May we, like Peter, recognize that true hope, purpose, and transformation are found in Jesus alone. As we do, we'll discover a life of discipleship that goes far beyond our initial excitement, overcomes our deepest fears, and satisfies us more than any worldly comfort ever could.

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