NEW Charmer Pratt, a longtime member of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia, has served faithfully in the welcoming ministry since 2016.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“The God of Inconvenience”
Luke 9:57–62
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.” To another He said, “Follow Me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus answered, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow You, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Imagine going about your normal day—whether at work, school, running errands, caring for your family, or even dealing with an emergency—and in that very moment the Lord commands you to abandon everything to follow Him in a new way. Would you be willing to drop everything right now to follow Christ? If we’re honest, many of us, myself included, would struggle to immediately say yes. It sounds like a wild hypothetical, but for the people in Luke 9, it was a real decision.
The first person boldly declared that he would follow Jesus, not realizing that doing so meant abandoning all his possessions. The second and third potential disciples wanted to follow Jesus—but at a more convenient time. Yet Jesus makes it clear that He is a God who calls us to obedience, not convenience. For us as believers, that obedience may be as simple as giving more time than we planned to help a friend in need, or as costly as joining a mission trip while obligations at home still press on us.
Our Lord does not say, “Follow Me when you get the chance.” He simply says, “Follow Me,” knowing that the right moment is the very moment He calls. Trust God’s timing. As difficult—or even foolish—it may appear when we follow the Lord, remember that no wise disciple has ever regretted abandoning anything that stood in the way of following Christ.
Prayer: Lord, please keep me aware and ready to follow You whenever You call. Thank You for Your eternal wisdom that surpasses everything I see, and forgive me for the moments when I have failed to trust Your timing. Teach me to move when You say “go,” and not only when I feel ready. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Habakkuk 2
Lunch Break Study
(Prepared by Pastor David Kwon; originally posted on November 27, 2015)
Read Matthew 14:22-33: Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. [23] And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, [24] but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. [25] And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. [26] But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. [27] But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” [28] And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” [29] He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. [30] But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” [31] Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” [32] And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. [33] And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Questions to Consider
- What was the reaction of the disciples when they saw Jesus?
- How does fear often hinder us from living by great faith?
- What does the passage say about overcoming our fears?
Notes
- They were terrified and responded in fear (v.26).
- When we live in fear, it distorts the power and character of Jesus in our lives. We often make Him too small, which hinders us from living by faith and not by sight.
- The disciples worshiped the Lord after they acknowledged His power and greatness (v.33). Our worship of Christ will often increase our faith and overcome our fears.
Evening Reflection
Take some time in personal worship through prayer, song, or the Word. Meditate on the promises and truths of God. As you do, ask Him to give you courageous faith.