During World War I, Oswald Chambers came to a crossroads. Should he continue to oversee the Bible Training College he had started, or go where God was leading—to serve and minister among the British troops in Egypt? The man whose teachings and insights are found in My Utmost for His Highest chose to follow God. He wrote, “I give it up because I believe I do so in answer to Thy call.” Oswald Chambers never looked back. He went and selflessly served God for 2 years in Egypt, until a ruptured appendix led to his death at age 43.
Jesus was in Galilee when He made a “no looking back” decision to make the 3-day journey to Jerusalem. He “resolutely set out” for the city (Luke 9:51), knowing that opposition from Samaritans (who were hostile to the Jews) would make for a thorny trek to Jerusalem—the city where He would ultimately be crucified on a cross. His mission to provide salvation for all who would believe in Him had to be accomplished (Romans 3:25-26).
As He made His way along the dusty roads, Jesus called out to a man, “Come, follow Me” (Luke 9:59). He says the same thing to you and me today. The decision to follow Him is the most important decision we will make, for it leads to eternal life. Without His salvation, we’re destined to eternal suffering in hell (Matthew 10:28).
When we follow Jesus, we experience “a rich and satisfying life” in Him (John 10:10). But it is also a life, like Jesus’ own experience on earth, that will likely be filled with opposition and great difficulty.
Jesus said that a person must leave it all behind to follow Him. “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Let’s follow Him today and not look back.
More:
Jesus said to His disciples, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).
Next:
What does it mean to follow Jesus with no looking back? How does His example inspire you?
bethanyF on April 14, 2010 at 5:09 am
Jesus’ example inspires me because His motive was love. Jesus who was equal with the Father proved his love for me on the cross.
tom felten on April 14, 2010 at 9:01 am
Beautifully written, bethanyf. The following verses contain Jesus’ declaration of His love for us: “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:9-13). Two things stand out in this passage. First, that obedience is required of us as a means of revealing our love for Jesus. Second, Jesus pointed to the cross, the greatest act of love ever, when he said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” We’re called to follow His example.
bethsjourney on April 14, 2010 at 10:14 am
I love this. I am so blessed by the Scripture of Luke 9:62, because we have been planting our garden, and this is the first time in my adult life I have really had to WORK in my own garden and do a lot of the hands-on stuff…as I was hoeing in between the pepper plants and working the dirt in between my hands, I kept telling myself, “don’t look back and look at ‘how little’ I have done, look at how far I’ve come and how blessed we are to have our own garden!” Thank you Jesus for taking that walk to Jerusalem….Im doing my best every day to walk with You.
Soldier4Christ on April 14, 2010 at 11:29 am
I am blessed by this devotion, it made me think of all the things that I have learned since getting serious about being in the Word on a daily basis. The bible could be called a love story, because through everything that I have read so far and all the things I have yet to read the bible tells of the love that God has for us all. Just think about it, God sent His only Son to die on a cross for us so that we might live. Think about how Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to die upon the cross for our sins, and that when He went back to heaven that He didn’t leave us empty handed and alone but sent His Holy Spirit to be our comforter. I can’t think of any love more perfect and beautiful than that.
tom felten on April 14, 2010 at 9:07 am
riri, yes, you can get through it—by His strength. I’m so grateful that God says to us, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).