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Day 15 Matthew 8:18-22 Matthew 8:18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. 19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou go. 20 And Jesus said unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. What conditions do you put on what you want to do? Do you have things you want to accomplish first before you will think about fulfilling your life’s dream? What about marriage and children? Do you need a good income before you will consider either? The scribe wanted to follow Jesus wherever he went. Jesus tested him by telling him foxes, meaning the local government-Herod was an Idumean Jew, the fox was a metaphor for an Idumean Jew. Birds of the air was a symbol of Rome as they had eagles on the end of their standards. With that kind of control over the land, there wasn’t any place those who followed Jesus could be completely safe. Another disciple wanted to bury his father first before he followed Jesus wholeheartedly. Jesus told him to let the dead bury their dead. Those who had closed their hearts and minds to Jesus, were the dead he talked about, not that dead people could bury anyone, but only those dead to the gospel Jesus presented the people. What did it take for you to become a Christian? Are you still putting conditions on your walk with Jesus Christ? Do you take opportunities to work instead of being in church when the doors are open? What excuses do you have for not volunteering your time to what Jesus called you to do? It saddens my heart when I hear people say how much they love Jesus, but then don’t show up for anything related to the work of Jesus Christ. They sit at home, they go to work, they find excuses to be elsewhere. There are those who truly love the Lord, and do show up when they can, but there are times when there is no means to show up. I’m not talking about those people, neither is Jesus. Jesus knows the heart of every person and the conditions they put on their relationship with him. God sent his Son, Jesus, to earth for one purpose. Imagine what your life would be like if Jesus refused to obey the Father, and didn’t come to earth and die for you? You would be lost, without hope. Yet Jesus obeyed, and you have salvation today because he did. There are no conditions with Jesus. There should be no conditions with you either. Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. (KJV) Examine your heart? Where is your true devotion to Jesus? Are you available? Or are you available upon condition? Let’s pray: Father, help me put no conditions on my service to you. Help me be available and ready when you ask me anything of me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 3 May 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay