Episode 188 — Luke 9:57–62 — Come Follow Me

Hey everybody, welcome to the podcast, I’m Nick and it’s fantastic to be here with you today.
Today is July 7.
Each day, we follow a simple rhythm: Slow Down, Read, Notice, Reread, Meditate, Respond, and Exercise.
Let’s begin.

Slow Down
Jesus is here. He’s sitting in your favorite spot, waiting for you to join Him.
You may have a million things on your mind, but for these few moments, set them aside. Relax. Calm your body.
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in, then slowly release it.
As you inhale, whisper: “Jesus, I hear your call.” 
As you exhale, pray: “Let me follow You.”
Do this three times, then rest in His presence.

Read
 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 
But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” 
He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” 
The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 
But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” 
Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” 
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
(Luke 9:57–62, NLT)

Notice
What stands out to you in this passage?
Is there a phrase or truth that speaks directly to you?
Hold it in your heart for a moment.

Reread
Hear these words again listening for what Jesus is saying to you.
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Meditate
Following Jesus requires total commitment, not partial obedience.
In this passage, Jesus encounters three different people—each with a different response to His call.
The first says: "I will follow you wherever you go." It sounds like total commitment. But Jesus responds with a reality check: "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head." Jesus is saying: Do you understand what you're signing up for? Following me means letting go of security, comfort, and certainty.
The second person Jesus directly calls: "Come, follow me." The man agrees—but then adds a condition: "First let me return home and bury my father." It sounds reasonable. It sounds honoring. But Jesus's response is stark: "Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God." Jesus is not being harsh. He's being clear: you cannot follow me with conditions. You cannot say "yes, but first..."
The third person says: "Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family." Again, it sounds reasonable. But Jesus responds: "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God." The image is powerful—a farmer plowing a field cannot look back. His attention must be forward, or the plow will veer off course.
Notice the pattern: Each person wants to follow Jesus on their own terms. Each person has a "but first." And Jesus consistently calls them to undivided allegiance.
This doesn't mean you abandon your family or neglect your responsibilities. It means that nothing—no relationship, no obligation, no comfort, no plan—comes before your commitment to Jesus and His kingdom.
Take a few moments to sit with these questions:
What is my "but first"? What condition am I placing on my following of Jesus?
Am I willing to follow Him without knowing where He's leading me?
What would it look like to put my hand to the plow and never look back?
Respond
Jesus, I hear Your call. Help me to follow You without conditions, without hesitation, and without looking back.

Exercise
The rush of life will meet you again when you leave this sacred place—but you can carry this moment into your day by forming new habits.
Habit: The One Thing 
Today's habit is an act of honest surrender: identify the "but first" in your own following of Jesus.
What is the one thing you're holding onto? What is the condition you're placing on your obedience? What are you waiting to do before you fully commit?
Write it down. Be specific. Don't hide behind vague language.
Then, hold that thing before Jesus and pray: "Jesus, I see it now. I've been saying 'yes, but first...' I've been holding onto _________________ as a condition for following You. But You're calling me to undivided allegiance. I'm choosing today to release this. I'm putting my hand to the plow. I'm not looking back. I'm following You—not on my terms, but on Yours."
This might feel scary. It might feel like you're losing something important. That's okay. Jesus knows what He's asking. And He knows that what He offers—His kingdom, His presence, His purpose—is worth infinitely more than whatever you're releasing.
The first disciples didn't understand where Jesus was leading them. They couldn't see the resurrection. They couldn't see Pentecost. They couldn't see the global church that would bear their witness. All they could do was follow.
And the same is true for you. You don't need to see the whole path. You just need to take the next step. Release your "but first." Put your hand to the plow. And follow.

I have one ask of you before you go, could you please share this podcast with one person today? One person at a time will grow this podcast to help more people walk with Jesus.
That’s your two minutes with Jesus for today.
Now, take what you’ve heard…share it and live it.
Until next time, keep slowing down, keep listening, and keep walking with Jesus.