Matthew 8:19 – And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
A man who was well acquainted with the law of Moses and religious studies approached Jesus with a zealous expression and offered Jesus his allegiance. Could it be that this man was enlightened that Jesus was indeed the Christ and he was ready to fully commit to his way, or was it that this man reasoned with what he read in his studies and decided he needed a closer, in-person look at this man, Jesus, to see if indeed he was the Messiah? Whatever his motives, he chased Jesus down and said, “I’m all in. Wherever you go, I go.” Our reasons for needing a savior are aplenty. We lack self-control, Christ offers discipline. We lack hope, Christ offers us comfort. We lack clarity, Christ offers us guidance. We lack commitment, Christ offers us his faithfulness. And while we will gladly accept the goodness Christ has to offer, have we fully considered the cost of following him? Jesus wanted to make this man aware that following him was not all glitz and glamor. Following Jesus is a commitment to following his way and going his way. It is a denial of self. Following Christ’s way is full obedience to what he teaches in his word. We live, we move, we have our being according to what he has said. We follow his example. Going Christ’s way is to be led by his Spirit to do the things of the Spirit. The cost of being a disciple of Jesus is to know and commit to doing his will, his way, and in his timing. It is a marvelous thing to yield to Christ, to pursue him with reckless abandonment. The call to follow Jesus is extraordinary and requires yes to his mission and not simply mere curiosity.
With Sincerity 