lives as believers the Lord Jesus must have the pre-eminence (Colossians 1 :18). Christ will not play second fid dle to anyone, be it even our closest relative or most loved one. In Mat thew 10:37-38 we read, “He that lov- eth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” The demands of our Saviour are rightly compelling. No man can face them and remain the same. He demands first place in the consecrated life. He must be predominant as well as pre eminent. It is not enough that he be resident; He must also be president. The Lordship of Christ, the total authority of the sovereign Son of God, should be every believer’s de sire and goal. The Lord has a per fect right to tell us what He wants us to do. Of these three who met the Sav iour, where would you fit in? What are the excuses you may have been offering? They are worthless and fu tile. They will stand in the way of complete joy and satisfaction found only in the very center of His holy will. May those of us who name His name follow Him without any reser vations whatsoever, “ Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, de spising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
third and fourth words of his an swer, “me first.” ) Certainly there is nothing wrong in burying one’s father. But there is no indication that the man was even sick, much less dead. This is why the Saviour replied, “ Let the (spir itually) dead bury their (physically) dead.” It is far more important to preach than it is to bury. Our Lord challenged this man to let others do what was unnecessary for him to perform. There are plenty to bury but few who are able or willing to preach the kingdom of God. The third and last of these three encounters is expressed in the man’s words, “ Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at the home of my house.” How unreasonable to start with the word “ Lord” and then follow it with “ I will.” It is not consistent. It is His will and not ours which must be our consuming purpose and goal. How many people there are who want to serve the Lord but only on their own conditions and terms! If a per son is going to be a follower, he can not be a leader. We have no right, regardless how good Christians we consider ourselves to be, to dictate terms to the Lord. The Saviour’s reply to this third man was most appropriate: “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” A man can’t be interested in or consumed by two worlds. A farmer looking both ways will cut crooked furrows. So in our
I T is f a s c in a t in g To FIND the many examples in the Word of God con cerning people who came in contact with the Lord and who, as a result, never were the same again. This makes a wonderful study in the Gos pel accounts. The testimonies we find are thrilling. In Luke 9:57 we read, “ And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whither soever thou goest.” He didn’t seem to care what obstacles might be thrown into his pathway. The Saviour’s re sponse is most interesting, “ Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” This eager volunteer, however, had not counted the cost. He didn’t realize what all was involved in pledging such alle giance. This is all we ever hear of him as he disappears from the rec ord. The second person mentioned in this portion is greeted by the Saviour with the compelling words, “ Follow me.” This statement has a familiar ring to us. The Lord said, “ Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). “ If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). “What is that to thee? follow thou me” (John 21:22). In the case of this man, however, he offers an excuse, “ Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.” He was willing, but not right now. (Notice the revealing
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