“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 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.” Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:18-22 (NLT)

Observation

james: “Jesus! I want to follow you!!”

JESUS:  Are you sure that you want to follow me?

james: Yep! anywhere you go, I’ll follow you!

JESUS: Do you really know what you are saying? Are you really prepared to stay on with me until the end?

james: Oh yeah, not a problem, I just had a cup of coffee and I’m feeling great!

JESUS: Oh, wait, I just had a thought… you’re going to fall flat on your face.

james: Jesus, that’s not cool, that’s not a great way to encourage me!

Jesus: James, you’re a knuckle head. You’re not going to be able to anything in your own power. Following me, being a disciple,  isn’t like taking a walk in the park when you feel good. It’s a consistent walk, one that you need to be prepared to die for.

james: Oh, it’s starting to sound like a pretty big commitment. I’m having doubts as to my preparedness for this journey. Maybe I should take a break, read a little, go to school again, get really prepared to follow you until I die.

JESUS: Uh, how about you just follow me right now? I’ll teach you as we walk.

james: Jesus, I don’t know how to walk…I can’t feel my legs!

JESUS: Dude, get off the ground! Here, take my hand and I’ll help you…good, now walk with me.

Application

Being a disciple isn’t a decision that can be made easily. It’s not a decision that can be made half-heartedly or only once in your life.

You: “Oh, so I take it you’re not a once saved, always saved person”

I’m not talking about salvation, I’m talking about discipleship. Being a disciple is something that you need to work on every single day of your life. It’s a walk that you need to work on, a walk that requires consistent dedication…a daily walk.

I’ve got a long way to go. Too many times in my life I’ve allowed my feelings to dicatate my actions. Thank God for grace. Take heart! Wake up each day with the understanding that it’s a walk that can be made with Jesus at your side. You’re not walking alone.

Prayer

Help me to wake up each and every day and first focus on you. Help me to choose to walk with you daily. Thank you for the grace that you have extended to me when I fail.

“The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.  He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit.  Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.” Mark 11:12-14 (NLT)

Observation

I would have made that Fig tree not bear bear fruit too. Why? I’m human and I get a little ticked at things that disappoint me. We all get ticked off, even Sheryl or my favorite mother in law Cheri (I’ve seen them get ticked at me!).

After Jesus trashed the temple and threw out the money lenders we read that:

“The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”  Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.” Mark 11:20-23 (NLT)

I like to think that  Jesus passed that tree and gave a wink to his disciples. As if to say, “pretty cool huh”?  Because it IS cool. That’s just one reason why I’m already like Jesus, I think making a fig tree whither is cool.

Application

Jesus wants to know all of us. Me, you, that bum on the street corner, everyone. He doesn’t want to meet the “churchy you” on Sundays, nope, he wants to know you personally.  As a matter of fact you’re so in that God, the creator of EVERYTHING wants to know you just like that too.

When we are able to know God intimately we are able to hear him. As we seek God our relationship grows. As our relationship grows our faith builds. And when we have faith (with no doubt in our hearts) we can kill fig trees, or hurl mountains into the ocean. It’s going to be a blast.

Prayer

God, I want an intimate relationship with you. I know that you have work for me to do, and I’ll do it. When we get to know each other a little better I sure would like to move mountains…just keep that in mind.