Daily Devotional - Discipleship - WK31 - 08/02/24 - Day 194 "Forsake All"

Author: Evang. Lisa L. Dalton

“Forsake All” 
Scripture: Matt. 8:19-22

“19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” (KJV)

Devotion: Can you imagine someone telling you that you can’t even go bury your loved one because you have to follow them on a mission? It seems a little insensitive right? I think so. However, when it comes to doing what our Father God requires us to do, it will push us to a place of sacrifice, which often times causes us to make uncomfortable decisions.

In this verse of scripture, one of the scribes, (one who teaches the law) tells Jesus that he is willing to follow Him wherever He goes. Another one of His disciples tells Jesus he is willing to follow Him, but he must go and bury his father first. Jesus expresses to them both, that He doesn’t have a place to lay His head like foxes and birds do. What was Jesus saying?

He was saying that discipleship challenges us to examine our readiness to follow Him wholeheartedly. Following Jesus requires sacrifice and a willingness to embrace uncertainty and discomfort. Here’s the question. Are we willing to leave behind our comforts and securities to follow Jesus. Are we prepared to prioritize Jesus above all else, even when it requires difficult decisions and sacrifice?  

Application: Reflect on the areas of your life where you might be holding back from fully committing to Jesus. What comforts, securities, or obligations are keeping you from following Him with your whole heart? Ask God for the strength and courage to put Him first and trust Him with the uncertainties and sacrifices that come with true discipleship.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for calling us to follow You. Help us to understand the cost of discipleship and to embrace it with faith and courage. Give us the strength to let go of our comforts and securities, and the determination to place You above all else in our lives. May our commitment to You be unwavering, and may we trust You completely as we walk the path You have set before us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.