Thursday May 16th, 2024
« Jesus said to him, “Anyone who starts to plow and then keeps looking back is of no use for the Kingdom of God” »
57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay His head.”
59 He said to another person, “Come, follow Me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
Situations in the world today can make any child of God backslide if he or she is not well-grounded in His word.
Knowing this, Jesus Christ told the disciples in John 16:33NKJV
« These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” »
Just after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, Peter decided to return to his former trade of fishing along with some other disciples (John 21:3).
Many things could have been responsible for their decision to abandon their calling in Christ as evangelists to go back to fishing.
Peter and the other disciples that followed him must have felt the future was bleak since their expectation of Jesus as the political Messiah was dashed at His crucifixion.
They may also have been disappointed over the fact that, upon His resurrection, Jesus Christ did not restore the sovereignty of Israel as a nation, as expected. This made them ask,
« …“Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” »
Beloved, what may cause you to contemplate going back into the world?
- Is it joblessness, a troublesome spouse, a failed business, yet-to-be-fulfilled dreams, betrayal from friends or loved ones?
Take a cue from Paul – an apostle of Christ, when he asked rhetorically in Romans 8:35,37CW :
« Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?.. In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us »
Jesus Christ in our memory verse today warns us against going back when He says that, having decided to work for the Lord, anyone who goes back to the world is not fit for the kingdom (Luke 9:62).
Therefore beloved, going back because of what you are passing through is not an option because the Bible says that we should hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (Hebrews 10:23).
The good news is that glory is waiting ahead of you if only you can hold on to Christ and never go back to the world (Colossians 1:27, Psalm 30:5).
Prayer focus – Father, please keep me in Your arms, don’t let me fall away from the faith, in Jesus’ name.
Author – Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Faith boosting real life Christian stories : Supernatural Stories
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