Are you willing?

Are you willing to do what He ask of you?

And a scribe came up and said to Him, “Master, I will accompany You wherever You go.” Matthew 8:19

I can’t think of a better fitting time for this devotion more than Holy Week, the week we celebrate the process of Jesus’ willingness. We observe and remember the sacrifice: His going to the cross and His death, that brought about His resurrection. All of this made it possible for us to have eternal life. He laid down His life so that we might have new life. That means that we are all called die to our old life of sin and live a new and resurrected life as unto Him. That requires us also laying down our self will and answering a greater call.

He has called us believers to be His disciples and has given us the great commission; to follow Him, making disciples out of all nations, spreading the good news and so teaching others about Him. It’s a great and grand responsibility.

If we have accepted Him, then we are His chosen, His children, His followers and His disciples. That means we are to be all about our Father’s business, just like Jesus was. That requires us to reflect Him in all areas of our lives and to advance His Kingdom well. It looks like saying “yes.” There is opportunity everywhere and for everyone.

Discipleship looks different for all of us. Some are called and led to be missionaries far away and some are called to stay close to home. The work is near and far, but everyone has an equal importance and a position in the Kingdom call. Are you willing to say yes? But first, have you counted the cost? The call takes work and the work isn’t always glamorous, but it is good. He who is faithful in little, is also faithful in much. Just start by showing up and saying, “Yes Lord, here I am, where do You want to send me today or how do you want to use me right where I am.” Let’s look at the scripture.

Jesus had just performed many healings and miracles as we see in Matthew 8. Many witnessed these miracles. Jesus had obviously had a long day and was directing His disciples to the other side of the lake because of the crowd that was closing in. About that time a scribe came up to Him after seeing all that He performed and the popularity that He was acquiring and said, “Master, I’ll accompany You wherever you go”. He didn’t wait on Jesus to ask, he just jumped right in.

You ask, “that’s good, right? He was willing to follow Jesus anywhere that He went.” Sounds good, but here’s the deal: in all reality, he probably spoke prematurely and in haste, and Jesus knew it. It seems his heart wasn’t exactly in the right place. He had not yet counted the cost and his quick offer wasn’t for all the right reasons. He saw the miracles and the crowds or what looked like fame. He wanted in on what was to come, or did he really……

This proves that lots want the rewards and to see the miracles but few are willing to do the work. Remember the verse, “the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.” Or, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” We must not forget that, it’s all for souls! That’s the whole reason He came. That’s the whole reason He died.

The work ain’t always pretty as some would think, but we don’t do it because it’s easy or for recognition, we do it for His glory. It takes work sometimes to get to the miracle. Remember the 3 men who were willing to tote their friend to Jesus in order to get him healed? The work is where the need is. That means meeting people right where they are and that can get hard and look messy. You might say, “whoa! Don’t fault the scribe yet, at least he’s willing”, but Jesus saw his heart and knew his intent. He knows ours too. Don’t let this dishearten you, let it change you.

We know this by what Jesus says next: 

“Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have lodging places, but the Son of Man has NOWHERE to lay His head.” - Matthew 8:20

Still wanna go? Lots are standing in line but few are truly willing to do what it takes to get to the souls and to lay down selfish will. This man was a teacher of the law. It’s easy to speak about but it’s a lot harder to walk out. Jesus wants to teach us but that means truly listening and following Him, no matter the cost.

Once we have put our hand to the plow, we are to count the cost for the cause of Christ, for the winning of souls for the Kingdom, and we aren’t to dare look back. There’s nothing back there that’s profitable in our old way of living and thinking. We must be willing to do what He’s called us to do. Have you counted the cost?

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 9:62

Next, a disciple said, (Wait) “let me go and bury my father.” Was that so wrong? Maybe his dad was elderly and he needed care or attention but Jesus spoke in parables so that we might understand. There’s nothing at all wrong with honoring your parents or those you love, in fact, we are commanded to. BUT, the point Jesus is trying to make is that we must be fully and completely sold out to Him without hesitation. Our allegiance must be to Him. Don’t miss the point to keep Him first and to be all in.

When Jesus was only 12, he had stayed behind in Jerusalem as his parents we’re journeying back home. The only thing was, they didn’t know it! When they found Him, He was in the temple sitting amongst teachers listening and asking questions, and of course they were upset as any parent would be. They asked Him why he had done this to them. This is how He responded: “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” They didn’t understand, they were His parents. Jesus didn’t speak out of disrespect to them, in fact He was subjected to them and would go back with them, but He expressed the importance of doing the work of God.He wasn’t lost but right at home in the Father’ house and doing the Father’s work; ministry.

Sometimes what God ask of us doesn’t make sense to others and that’s ok. We seek the approval of God, not man.

Nothing should come before God or what He’s asked of us, or it comes in-between us. If we truly want to serve Him, then He will be our first priority, not our last. He is Lord of all or not at all. We must put our action where our mouth is. We must first consider the cost. We can be assured that He won’t ask us to do anything meaningless even if it’s costly or hard!  

As Matthew Henry says it about the man who wanted to go back to bury his father: “This seemed reasonable, yet it was not right. He had not true zeal for the work. Burying the dead, especially a dead father, is a good work, but it is not thy work at this time. If Christ requires our service, affection even for the nearest and dearest relatives, and for things otherwise our duty, must give way.”

We have a duty, an obligation to Jesus.

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Matthew 19:29

Does that mean we neglect our earthly duties? Absolutely not! It means if we keep God first, then things or people won’t dictate us, nor will our love for other things or people pleasing. We will live to please and obey God. As long as He is first, all the rest will have it’s place and priority, the right things won’t be neglected then.

We MUST BE WILLING and to do uncomfortable things over what is feel good and looks good. What is He asking of you? Our immediate obedience shows our trust and that we understand the cost of the willingness, but we also understand the cost of not following Him.

Yet, if we act too quickly before we’ve counted the cost, we will fall away just as quickly as we said yes. If we neglect and hesitate, we’re really already out. He wants hearts and minds sold out to Him, faithful and willing. 

 Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:21-22

When Jesus called the disciples to leave their boats, He asked them to leave behind any doubts, hesitations, double mindedness and whatever else would stand in the way because He knew that it would hinder them. Notice they left the boat and the father to follow Jesus. It might be leaving a job behind, your past, breaking up with self will or whatever is keeping you back. But, I promise, it’ll be worth the switch. It’ll produce heavenly dividends. He requires immediate action once you’ve made up your mind. Don’t look back- “All in”.

He wants us to know what it looks like to say yes. It looks like being rejected. It looks like work. It looks being uncomfortable and not knowing what’s ahead. It looks like trust. It looks like the saving of souls and it’s not for superficial reward but heavenly. Soul work is hard work but well worth the dividends. The harvest isn’t always immediate, it looks like first sowing seeds.

You must ask what your expecting and that will tell if your aim and sowing is in the right place. Is it kingdom and eternity based or is it only for earthly reward and so temporal based? Are you sowing heavenly seeds and what is your hands and hearts really working for? Does it please God? Is it for Him or is it for outside affirmation? Does it glorify Him? Does it help others? These questions should challenge us and change us. He has given us many promises IF we keep in accordance with His will. He said, “If you love Me, Keep My Commands.”

I hope your decision is yes and all in, and I hope that you have the heart and attitude that reveals trust in Him. Just as Jesus said this week, many years ago, “Not my will but Yours Father”, we must be willing too. He had the willingness and He went forward in that which He was called to do. He counted the cost and paid the price by His blood shed so that we might die to sin and live true life as unto Him. Our willingness and decision looks like picking up our crosses daily and following after Him.

Maybe you’ve already tried and it seemed to be useless. Well, Jesus’ disciples had fished all night once and caught nothing but Jesus got in the boat and told them to do it again, and so they did. They cast out in the deep just as He instructed them to, and even though it didn’t make sense. The net was so full, it couldn’t hold all the fish.

Maybe you’re tired, maybe you’ve all but given up, but Jesus has something to teach us. So do it again. He’s not saying to give up, but cast to the other side. Stop doing it your way; don’t give up, just try it again. He has insights to things that we can’t see. Take Him at His word. The real catch is out in the deep. Maybe He’s let you try it your way and doing what you think works until you find that it doesn’t. If you’ve pulled up to shore, all but ready to give up, you’re not finished yet. Maybe what He’s asking don’t make sense but do it again. This journey’s not easy. We all at some point get hurt and burned, and/or burned out, but we must not quit. We don’t reap if we faint. Let’s encourage one another to go on and run our race well.

Jesus gave us these examples of the two men in Matthew 8, so that we might learn from them. Do not speak in haste, but do consider and count the cost because there’s a job to do. Do not hesitate but be willing to leave everything else behind at the expense of following Him. He is not asking us to abandon our duties, or whatever He has entrusted us with. He is asking us if we are willing to do whatever it takes, even if it’s hard, and especially if it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. He’s asking us to be willing.

Will we let others hold us back? Will we let their opinions stop us? Or, is our love for Him greater than anyone or anything else? He wants to be first or He’s last. There’s no in-between with God. For He prefers hot or cold, He detest luke warm, it’s a bad taste to Him. He will only say “well done” or “depart, I never knew you.” There will be no indecision or in between then. For we must decide here and now to be all in, in order to enter into His promises later. Have you counted the cost and are you willing ? Then I believe that He would say: “Ok, then follow Me.”

Prove it. Don’t leave time to gather anything or ask permission. Fear Him more than anything you fear to lose. You and I must live to serve and please Him. If we are willing and obedient then He will take care of the rest, and make a way where we can’t. He said to, “Follow Me. I will make you fishers of men.” It’s all about souls and investing in the Kingdom. It’s a serious business, that’s why we must be willing to count the cost. There are lives hanging in the balance and found wanting. It’s just as serious as saving a drowning man, his life is found wanting in between heaven and hell. Do you really believe? Then will you be willing to be Jesus’ hands and feet? He’s waiting, if you’re willing.

This week as we remember what He did for us, let us ask what we can do for Him. Don’t abandon ship. It’s all about catching souls, again, that’s why He laid His own life down. Let us not forget the importance of the cross and why He came - John 3:16. Let us redefine what it is we are doing if we are unsure. Let us rededicate our time and lives to Him. Let His mission be our mission, His mindset be ours. If you aren’t all in but really willing to be, now is as good of a time as any! He’s waiting on you. If He calls, you must heed. No hesitation. No doubt. Don’t answer prematurely. Don’t hesitate. Consider and be willing, and don’t look back. There’s work to do. Our hand must be to the plow, and our eye on the prize.

He’s looking and wants a heart willing, a mind made up, and life ready for action. He’s looking for you. 

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. Isaiah 1:19

God forgive us for when we doubt. If we haven’t counted the cost, may we and may we realize that the responsibility and its outcome outweighs anything that this world has to offer. The easy don’t accomplish the great. May we remember this week and always what you’ve done for us, and we ask what we can do for you. Relationships are two way streets and we have a part to do. You are trustworthy, You already know what’s ahead of us before we do. You are the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to God but by a You. That is why we must follow. The Most You could do for me is die, the least I can do is live my life for You. Thank You for Your love and sacrifice. I am willing, I want to follow You. In Your name, Jesus, amen.