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"He said to another, "Follow me!" But he said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God." Another also said, "I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to bid farewell to those who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God." Luke 9:59-62 WEB.

Jesus called some people to follow Him, but they began to make excuses. Two said that while they would like to follow Him, they had some things to do first. The third one replied that he needed to bury his father. Though if the man's father had been a corpse at home, then he wouldn't have been there with Jesus. He would have been occupied with the funeral. So the story implies this man wanted to stay at home until his father died one day.

In this scripture, Jesus called them. They all said they wanted to follow Him. Yet, each one had reasons why they couldn't do it right now. There's no telling what they missed. They might have been listed with Peter, James, and John if they had followed Him. It could have been them walking on water with Peter and Jesus, but their life was too busy for Him. What a frightening thought, for I see the same thing happening today.

I've talked with people who desperately need a change in their lives, but they always put it off to a future date. Instead of getting serious with God, they would say something like: "Let me deal with this first." Then a decade goes by, and they still haven't dealt with it. Your life is passing by you right now, and there is nothing more important than your relationship with Jesus. Turn to Him now, and then He will help you put your house in order.

There have been times when I have stumbled while walking with the Lord, sometimes for long periods. Like the prodigal son, when I came to my senses (Luke 15:17), I would go and pray for a while, and every single time it has been: "Welcome back! Now get up, and let's go forward." I've never found the past to be a problem with God. The moment you are ready to face it, He will wash it from you. He knows our life is short, and He is only interested in getting the most out of the time we have left.

God knows our life is fleeting, and He wants us to make the most of it. Jesus asked those people to follow Him, and they began to make excuses why they couldn't. That tells us that not everyone who is called actually goes. So don't let your past hold you back from your future. The ones who made excuses went back home to their plows. You can do that, but the ones who followed Him became the ones we read about today.

When you stumble, repent, get up, and keep going. Take the risk, and don't look back. This is real. Jesus never said it would be easy to follow Him. The Apostles led lives filled with trials and tribulations, yet they were also filled with unspeakable joy. Let us be so full of the Holy Spirit that we bring change to our surroundings as they did.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please guide me, teach me, draw my family and me to You. Use me today just as I am. If there is something that needs to change, reveal it to me clearly so I can deal with it, and I will! Please lead me into divine encounters. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: For those following the Creation Photography weekly challenges, group leader, Dianna Wyles: Proverbs 31:25-28 "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." ~ 'Mother Moments' will be our next fun theme, of course, but you already knew that didn't you? Show us all the mom moments you cherish; you as a mom, your mom, the grand-moms, anyone filling a mom's shoes or helping a mom through funny moments, happy moments, sad ones, too. Hoping y'all enjoy a day filled with love, laughter, and extraordinarily precious memory making moments, today (and everyday ). God Bless! Here is the link: Creation Photographers

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