Jesus goes from rebuker to challenger at the close of Luke 9:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus then turned to another and said, \u201cCome be my disciple.\u201d\u00a0He replied, \u201cSomeday I will, Lord, <\/em>but allow me first<\/em><\/strong> to fulfill my duty as a good son and wait until my father passes away.\u201d\u00a0Jesus told him, \u201cDon\u2019t wait for your father\u2019s burial. Let those who are already dead wait for death. But as for you, go and proclaim everywhere that God\u2019s kingdom has arrived.\u201d\u00a0Still another said to him, \u201cLord, I want to follow you too. <\/em>But first<\/em><\/strong> let me go home and say good-bye to my entire family.\u201d\u00a0Jesus responded, \u201cWhy do you keep looking backward to your past and have second thoughts about following me? When you turn back you are useless to God\u2019s kingdom realm.\u201d (Luke 9.59 – 62, Passion Translation)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n What does Jesus challenge in both cases? \u201cBut first<\/em>…\u201d I’ll do it, just not right now this minute. I called this but first<\/em> attitude Labanizing<\/a> back in 2016. These guys could be putting Jesus off indefinitely – don\u2019t say no, but never get around to following Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OR, they could have every good intention. Just like I do some mornings. I\u2019ll have my time with God. But first<\/em> let me….<\/p>\n\n\n\n And some days, after I\u2019ve done the but firsts<\/em>, there\u2019s no time left. Oops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You always have time for that which you put first<\/em>. -Debbie Friley, The Navigators<\/p>\n\n\n\n My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;\u00a0In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.<\/em> (Psalm 5.3, ESV)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jesus goes from rebuker to challenger at the close of Luke 9: Jesus then turned to another and said, \u201cCome be my disciple.\u201d\u00a0He replied, \u201cSomeday I will, Lord, but allow me first to fulfill my duty as a good son and wait until my father passes away.\u201d\u00a0Jesus told him, \u201cDon\u2019t wait for your father\u2019s burial. … Continue reading But First…<\/span>