Verse: Matthew 8:18-20
18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Devotion:
Alright, this passage is a little weird upon first reading so so let’s recap: As Jesus was getting into the boat, His disciples followed him. Suddenly, 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.”
When you dig into it further, you find that Jesus is challenging us to consider the cost of following Him. The teacher of the law was eager to follow Jesus, but just said it on a whim without fully understanding what it means. Jesus reminds him that following him may not be easy or comfortable. In fact, it may require sacrifice and leaving behind the comforts of this world.
As followers of Christ, we are called to be willing to give up everything for the sake of the gospel. This may mean leaving behind our own plans and desires, stepping out of our comfort zones, and facing opposition from the world. He didn’t have a permanent home or any guaranteed plans day to day. But in return, we are promised the eternal reward of knowing and serving our Savior, a loving and merciful Father.
Prayer:
Lord help me to slow down and reflect today. Help me to be honest about my own commitment to following you. Am I willing to be uncomfortable for your names sake? Am I willing to trade in my hopes for Yours instead? Lord, help me to be more like the original disciples who followed you- willing to leave everything behind because I know You are infinitely greater. Guide me to be bold for Your names sake. Help me to trust in You because You care for me and always keep Your promises. Embolden me today Lord. We love you, amen.
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