praying effectively: Do Not Make Excuses (Lk.9:57-62, Mt.8)

(Luke 9:57-62)  As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” 61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we do not think we can do God's job/s (Mt.8:19-20, Lk.9:57-58)
- that we do not put off making the decision to put God first in our lives (Mt.8:21-22, Lk.9:61-62)
- that we do not make excuses not to do God's will (Lk.9:59-60)
- that we follow Jesus (Lk.9:59)
- that we help spread the gospel message (Lk.9:60)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your almighty power, infinite wisdom and loving sovereignty.  Only You could have paid the price for sin.  Only Your forgiveness will grant eternal salvation.  Only Your Holy Spirit can convict people's hearts, and indwell those who believe in order to guide and change us from the inside out.  Help us to understand that we cannot replace You in these things!

Help us to humbly desire to follow after You, as our name suggests - "Christian" - "Christ follower" - to be Christ-LIKE.  To follow after You - is to NOT follow after other things - is to NOT make excuses to avoid doing Your will.  To follow after You means we are putting You first in our lives.

Give us a desire to do Your will.  Give us a desire to share the gospel message.  Fill our hearts to the point that it overflows, so that those around us can see and hear the good news and realize that in this dark world there is light and hope in You.  Amen.