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“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:62 (ESV)

No one ever envisions the “empty nest” in the midst of diaper changes and late night feedings.  Our lives are forever changed in that split moment when we give birth and hear the audible cry of this “perfect” little one seeing us for the first time.  The uncharted paths of parenthood seem daunting, overwhelming and scary as we strap our bundle of joy into their car seat and leave the comfort of hospital nurses.

Wow do I remember those days….and the months and years which followed vanished ever so quickly.  While we were navigating each of those stages from toddlerhood to teen to adulthood, our calendars were full.  First steps, t-ball practice, middle school drama  – uncharted territory for inexperienced parents.  And just when we thought we nailed it, they were packing up their clothes and heading to college. Amidst a flood of tears, we prayed and hoped we had taught them well and prepared them for adulthood.

Strategic parenting is critical to ensure our children have a strong basis for when they leave our homes.  And Luke 9 unveils Jesus divine preparations for His followers who would be left on this earth after His departure.  No sugar coating spoken in His words.  Jesus was clear and direct.  The cost of following in His footsteps carried a huge price tag.  The ease of choosing to follow was simple, yet Jesus knew to follow would require daily dependence on the Father. Rejection would be common, but not to be taken personally.  Anyone rejecting them was literally rejecting Jesus and the Father (Luke 9:16)  – this rejection was not about them.

Following after Jesus would require discipline, devotion and a resilient commitment to never give up. Perhaps that is why He used the illustration of a farmer to emphasis His point. Plowing a field required the full attention of a farmer to ensure the plow stayed in the ground moving in the right direction. An intent eye focused on the Father would ensure distractions wouldn’t tempt Jesus’ followers to look back and retreat from sharing the gospel.  Distractions or a divided heart would greatly hinder their effectiveness.

We are almost at the end of 2020 and there have been many challenges and distractions to turn our focus away from following hard after Jesus.  We can definitely lose sight of the most important thing – sharing His love and truth with others if we allow distractions to sideline us. Looking back never serve us well.  Let’s recommit our hearts to hold tight to the plow and press forward trusting God every step of the way.

“Father,  plant within us a genuine desire to follow whole heartedly after You.  Not looking back – just pressing forward – in complete devotion to You.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life