THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS
John Gibson
Today’s Scripture: “As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ 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.’” Luke 9:57-58
Theme: We serve beyond our borders and far from our homes because we want to become more like Jesus, valuing eternal things over temporary comfort and security.
THE SAME COMMISSION
It doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone who attends The Cove Church that it is part of our mission as a church to “Learn to Follow Him.” We declare “We will Introduce our Friends to Jesus, Learn to Follow Him, and Celebrate His Presence in our Lives.” This is straight from Matthew 28, where Jesus sent out the disciples with clarity. This commission was something they could sink their teeth into, memorize, and repeat. “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV).
You and I are commanded to “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and by doing that, we are emulating our Savior. His character of love, mercy, kindness, gentleness, and compassion are more than suggestive virtues or abstract nouns. We are made new through Christ and in Christ to do good work. Good work—anything worthy, anything that has eternal value—is also going to be hard work. Jesus came with a holy message and purpose, calling us into repentance. He was on mission to draw a lost generation—and every generation to come—out of the schemes, lies, and spiritual poverty that once defined our lives. His message still stands, full of power: all who call upon Him as Savior and believe that God raised Him from the dead will find salvation, hope, and new life in Him.
WALKING BY FAITH
On mission, Jesus literally walked from place to place, and those distances were great. It was 80 miles from the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem, and it was a hot and arid land. He left Nazareth, left His comfort, left His earthly family, and started His ministry under the oppression of Roman rule, Jewish traditions, the Devil stalking Him, and religious authoritarianism. Jesus also knew in every fiber of His being that He was walking into a spiritual battle, with real-life physical pain as a likely result of His message and ministry.
It’s funny: when we go on mission trips today, we get to pack a suitcase that can usually weigh more than 30–40 lbs., which we carry from the house to the car. We get inoculated; we bring supplies, our hydration powders, buy cargo pants and sweat-wicking shirts, and pack our prescriptions, tissues, vitamins, and hand sanitizer. We plan it and pack it.
Jesus and His disciples? They packed light, just the clothes on their backs and the sandals on their feet. They were true minimalists and survivalists, with not even a donkey to ride or carry any gear. (They actually had to borrow a donkey on Palm Sunday!) They slept under the stars, made campfires, used the bathroom out in the bush, and ate what little they could buy or hunt along the way. They went through all this to save a wayward, fallen people, living in a world where many (as described in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan) would rather cross to the other side of the road than lend a hand to a person in need. But Jesus, our Lord and Redeemer, actively reaches toward us with mercy, offering rescue, and giving new life.
Make it Personal: Ask yourself, when was the last time you walked around in your grandmother’s drapes made of wool with flat leather sandals? Have you ever slept on the ground, dehydrated, hungry, with no shower for weeks, covered in dust and stinking? Have you ever exhausted yourself from walking 20–30 miles per day to help someone else?
What are we willing to do to “be more like Jesus?” Is your desert the distance from your front steps to your neighbors? Could your acts of compassion be showing love when others reject you? As people who have been saved by Jesus—who know the freedom, love, and mercy of God—shouldn’t we be reaching toward the lost with that same sacrifice, mercy, love, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ? We are called to live boldly, to stand with courage, and to move forward in faith and hope.
- What step of faith have you relegated to the back of your mind?
- What are some of the internal thoughts or reasons you have used to disregard a calling in your life?
- Have you ever been challenged to serve or go on mission?
- What is your biggest fear?
Going on mission at The Cove Church can be a life-changing opportunity for anyone willing to go. Many are called to serve locally, which is amazing! We have so many needs right here in America. It is a known but quiet truth that the United States is the largest mission field in the world. More countries are sending missionaries here than to any other country to reach the lost. But if you feel called to global missions, don’t disregard the calling. God has a plan that will forever change your heart and your life. Be BOLD. Be Courageous!
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation” (Isaiah 12:2, ESV).
Pray: Father God, I come to You humbly and with a heart open to hear from Your Holy Spirit! Thank You for loving me and reaching me right where I was, without judgement, and full of love, mercy, and grace. Thank You for saving me! Give me a heart full of courage to live out the calling I have in my life to share Your love and grace with everyone I meet. Fill me with the Holy Spirit, lead me, and give me the words to speak. I will not be afraid, and I will not be ashamed of my Lord and Savior. Thank You for who I have become in You! In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Read: John 20:21, Romans 10:15, Isaiah 6:8, Psalm 96:3
Weekly Memory Verse: “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” Romans 10:14-15, ESV