BURY
I lifted this...
http://www.lifebpc.com
1. The Bible tells us in Genesis 3:19 that we are to return the body to the ground - "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
2. All the saints of God in both the Old and New Testaments were buried (cf. Genesis 25:10; 35:19; Judges 8:32; 1 Kings 2:10; Matthew 14:12; Luke 23:53; Acts 8:2).
I lifted this...
http://www.lcms.org
Putting Christ First
Let the dead bury their dead.
(Luke 9:60 KJV)
Once we have heard Christ’s command, "Follow Me," it echoes within our hearts. We remember the man who answered Jesus’ command to follow Him by saying, "Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father." Jesus’ answer was clear and decisive: "Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God."
For ancient Jews, no obligation was more sacred than burying the dead.
Jesus seems cold and heartless when He says, "Let the dead bury their dead." Finally, one fellow was willing to follow, but requested exactly the same thing that Elisha asked of Elijah: "First let me say farewell to my family at home." Jesus answered him with another thought reminiscent of Elisha: "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."
"Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest His head."
Wow, if you can't even have a roof over your head, bury your father, or say goodbye to your family, maybe being jealous for God is too much to ask! Then again, maybe Jesus was just more straightforward than we are with people who always make an excuse, but never make a commitment.
To follow Jesus indeed calls for self-denial and even more because Jesus demands first place in our lives. Our natural feelings must be set aside. He calls us into a relationship with Him that is higher than family, state, and world.
This is a rude shock to the mental pictures we have of the Christian faith. Life is not essentially more pleasant and easy. In absolute, almost shocking terms, Christ insists on total devotion. He will not be a means to another end. He is the end and object of faith and trust. We do not hold to Him because of some future benefit. There is no bargaining involved. We love Him for who He is. We worship the God who fashioned us. We adore Him who died for us. We dedicate ourselves to Him who daily guides us. His call to discipleship-to follow Him-takes precedence over every other duty in life.
We put Him first!
Father, fasten our eyes more firmly on You that our love for You may deepen. Amen.
http://www.lifebpc.com
1. The Bible tells us in Genesis 3:19 that we are to return the body to the ground - "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
2. All the saints of God in both the Old and New Testaments were buried (cf. Genesis 25:10; 35:19; Judges 8:32; 1 Kings 2:10; Matthew 14:12; Luke 23:53; Acts 8:2).
I lifted this...
http://www.lcms.org
Putting Christ First
Let the dead bury their dead.
(Luke 9:60 KJV)
Once we have heard Christ’s command, "Follow Me," it echoes within our hearts. We remember the man who answered Jesus’ command to follow Him by saying, "Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father." Jesus’ answer was clear and decisive: "Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God."
For ancient Jews, no obligation was more sacred than burying the dead.
Jesus seems cold and heartless when He says, "Let the dead bury their dead." Finally, one fellow was willing to follow, but requested exactly the same thing that Elisha asked of Elijah: "First let me say farewell to my family at home." Jesus answered him with another thought reminiscent of Elisha: "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."
"Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest His head."
Wow, if you can't even have a roof over your head, bury your father, or say goodbye to your family, maybe being jealous for God is too much to ask! Then again, maybe Jesus was just more straightforward than we are with people who always make an excuse, but never make a commitment.
To follow Jesus indeed calls for self-denial and even more because Jesus demands first place in our lives. Our natural feelings must be set aside. He calls us into a relationship with Him that is higher than family, state, and world.
This is a rude shock to the mental pictures we have of the Christian faith. Life is not essentially more pleasant and easy. In absolute, almost shocking terms, Christ insists on total devotion. He will not be a means to another end. He is the end and object of faith and trust. We do not hold to Him because of some future benefit. There is no bargaining involved. We love Him for who He is. We worship the God who fashioned us. We adore Him who died for us. We dedicate ourselves to Him who daily guides us. His call to discipleship-to follow Him-takes precedence over every other duty in life.
We put Him first!
Father, fasten our eyes more firmly on You that our love for You may deepen. Amen.