Can You Pass the Tests?
Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, 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.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell 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 9:57-62)
One of the common threads in this story is that each of the men addressed Jesus as Lord. They used the word that means master, owner or boss. They indicated in their words that they were submissive servants to their Lord and Master; however, they also made statements that contradicted their use of the word Lord.
Jesus gave each of the men a test to reveal to him that he did not fully understand the claims he had made. If you call Jesus Lord of your life, then you need to be ready to take the tests that will either verify or negate your claims.
What if every Christian had to take a test to validate the authenticity of his claim? Well, in reality every Christian does need to pass the tests Jesus gives.
The first test is the test of poverty. When Jesus said, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head,” He was telling the man that sacrifice was required of those who follow Him. This sacrifice includes the Christian’s time, talent and treasure.
The second test is a test of urgency. When Jesus said, “Let the dead bury their own dead,” He was not being cruel or callous. The man’s father was not dead at that moment. He was actually asking for permission to go home and wait until his father passed away and his inheritance was in hand. The inheritance would be his “safety net” in case serving Jesus did not work out. He had no concept of the urgency of serving Christ. Dr. Stephen Olford used to say, Delayed obedience is disobedience.
The third test is a test of sovereignty. When Jesus said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God,” He was saying Lordship excludes other pre-occupations. It requires singular focus.
Did you pass the tests? It is a serious matter to call Jesus Christ Lord. Dr. Roger D. Willmore will be speaking at America’s Keswick this summer, July 14-16, 2013. If you have never heard Roger’s teaching, check out the May Discovering Victory Podcast.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 7-9; Matthew 13:1-30
Quote of the day: We cannot attain to the understanding of Scripture either by study or by the intellect. Your first duty is to begin by prayer. Entreat the Lord to grant you, of His great mercy, the true understanding of His Word.
There is no other interpreter of the Word of God than the Author of this Word, as He Himself has said, “They shall be all taught of God” (John 6:45). Hope for nothing from your own labors, from your own understanding: trust solely in God, and in the influence of His Spirit. Believe this on the word of a man who has experience. Martin Luther
Bible Memory: “I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.” Psalm 119:100-101
Freedom Fighters 