Day 33: Hypocrisy

Read Luke 20-21

In this chapter Jesus signifies the difference between Him and any other teacher. Jesus shows that He is the Word in the flesh. As religious scholars, chief priests, and elders challenge His authority, Jesus combats their claims and accusations with brilliant replies leaving them “confounded by His reply and couldn’t say anything in response” (Luke 20:26). As He overcomes the questions, Jesus turns to His disciples and proclaims:

Beware of the religious scholars. They like to parade around in long robes. They love being greeted in the marketplaces. They love taking the best seats in the synagogues. They adore being seated around the head table at banquets. But in their greed they rob widows of their houses and cover up their greed with long pretentious prayers. Their condemnation will be the worse because of their hypocrisy. (Luke 20:46-47)

Sound familiar?

Too often in this world we sanctify our worldly possessions, showboat our success, and thrive on the praise from others. Our Monday-Saturday lives reflect the greed of the religious scholars aforementioned, while our Sundays consist of the “pretentious prayers”- our masks, our disguises. Jesus warns us of this façade of “godliness” that we hold so near to our hearts. Christ warns that our hypocrisy will be our demise. There are times where we will be humble and modest, but isn’t it interesting how those times end up happening most when there are others around us: particularly people from our church around us? We as Christians are not perfect, but as we have all heard time after time, we are lukewarm Christians. Can we admit that everything we preach to others can be seen in our lives? If not, then Jesus is telling us now that it is time to change! In chapter 21 He warns of the end. Jesus tells us to be careful. It is not too late for us, but we have to be ready. We cannot escape. No one will know when the end will be, but when it happens, we shall know it is the work of God; “when the leaves break out of their buds, nobody has to tell you that summer is approaching; it’s obvious to you. It’s the same in the larger scheme of things” (Luke 21: 30-31). We are warned of false claims of the end, and these are claims that we have seen in our own lives. The year 2012 was believed to be the end of the world as thousands of people squandered in fear. For what? There were no signs of the end. Where were the signs that are clearly mentioned in the gospel? The earth will shake, robust flooding, cosmic destabilization, and amongst the chaos “they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and blazing glory” However, amidst this destruction Jesus tells us that we should not be afraid. But rather we should hold our heads high knowing that “liberation is fast approaching” (Luke 21: 26-28).

So I’ll leave you with this - we will not know when the end of time will be, and we cannot hope it will occur on our “good days”; avoid hypocrisy and show others that you are Christian through your actions AT ALL TIMES.

** I used a “The Voice” Bible so the scripture text may vary.

- Jonathan Cherian

Day 32: Faith Receives Grace

Read Luke 18-19

Chapters 18 and 19 in the Gospel according to Luke are so rich in accounts of Christ’s interactions and parables that depict how Jesus Christ truly cares for us. There are so many lessons that are taught to us just within the span of reading those two chapters. The various lessons that are exemplified through the use of these parables are very applicable to the lives we live today.

I will take this time to focus on what stuck out to me the most:
Luke 18:35-43: A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight
Reading this portion of the passage really hit home for me. A blind beggar RECEIVED his eyesight after pleading for mercy! This man, being a blind beggar, was viewed as an outcast in the society he lived in. This society casted a negative outlook on him, one that “indicated” that he was not worthy of God’s glory, sweet love, and compassion. On the other hand, what really matters is that by the GRACE of God, such judgments and stereotypes are not relevant to God’s greater plan for you! Jesus Christ was sent here for that sake of ALL of mankind. All we need is a sense of faith that will allow us to receive grace and to completely rely on God.

I wanted to propose a few questions that helped me look at the passage differently:

1. Although the Blind man’s problem was pretty evident, Jesus still asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Based off of your understanding and beliefs, why do you think Jesus did not instantly heal the beggar of his evident blindness?
   
   I felt that this alludes back to Mathew 7:7. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
2. I was curious as to why Jesus did not say that he himself healed the blind beggar, but said that the beggar’s faith healed him?
   
   I went to Porch this week and the speaker was talking about grace. God’s grace has always been there for us, but it is up to us to accept it. I feel that this concept can also be applied to this question to some extent. The faith that the beggar had in the power of Jesus’ healing is what allowed him to accept God’s grace.

Why this hit home for me?
Okay I’m about to get a bit personal here! I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) about 5 years ago. People tend to note that I have a fairly positive outlook on my life in terms of how MS affects me. BUT WHY? I honestly do not have a distinct answer for that. Partially, it is because of God’s Grace that MS has not taken a crazy toll on my health. I have yet to face the extent of what other MS patients have. I am not going to lie; I do have vulnerable moments when I can get a bit frustrated or even scared. But I have faith that helps me accept that no matter where MS will take me through out my life, I know that it is all apart of God’s plan for me. This faith has carried me a long way. I am only 22 years old and I do not know where God will lead me in my journey with MS, but I do know that my God will carry me through it.

Prayer:
Our Gracious Father,
We are so blessed to be able to share your word with each other. I pray that you instill in us a faith that will allow us to accept YOUR GRACE. That we may be able to fully rely on You God, for we are nothing with out You. We are not worthy of Your love, but through the finished work of Jesus Christ we are redeemed as Your own.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen

Cover of Not For a Moment by Meredith Andrews

You were reaching through the storm
Walking on the water
Even when I could not see
In the middle of it all
When I thought You were a thousand miles away
Not for a moment did You forsake me
Not for a moment did You forsake me 

After all You are constant
After all You are only good
After all You are sovereign
Not for a moment will You forsake me

You were singing in the dark
Whispering Your promise
Even when I could not hear
I was held in Your arms
Carried for a thousand miles to show
Not for a moment did You forsake me 

And every step every breath you are there
Every tear, every cry, every prayer
In my hurt, at my worst
When my world falls down
Not for a moment will You forsake me

- Anisha Mathew 

Day 31: Be Like Him

Read Luke 15-17

As Christians we are often reminded that we are made in the image of God and that we should be more Christlike in our words and actions, but how many of us can truly say we are acting as such on a daily basis? Jesus is always teaching us how to be like him and he continues to do so in Luke 17.

"So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. (Luke 17:3 NIV)

Jesus knows we are bound to stumble in our faith and forgives us of our mistakes - in fact often times we expect him to forgive us, but how often do we do the same for someone who has wronged us? Every time we have sinned against God, we are adding to the suffering Jesus endured on the cross for us. Every time someone has sinned against us, our suffering last but for a moment. So this Lenten season, let us change our perspective on forgiveness – to not only be forgiven by our Savior but to also forgive those who have wronged us.

Of course this is easier said than done and the disciples thought so too, so they asked Jesus to “Increase our faith!”

He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. (Luke 17:6 NIV)

With faith as small as a mustard seed. How crazy is that? When I learned this story for the first time I used to wonder why I couldn't get a tree to move, did I really not have faith in God, would I ever have such faith so I could move a tree? My dad responded to me with a question, "Do you know what the significance is of Jesus saying mustard seed?" And of course I said, "Yeah, because it is so small!" and he told me I was wrong, "The significance of saying it is a mustard seed that a mustard seed is full, there is no room inside a mustard seed. In the same way, our faith whether big or small must consist of only faith, no room for doubt or questions." Is this the type of faith we strive for? Do we strive to move trees and mountains?

Jesus then continues by explaining what type of mentality we should have as Christians.

So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ” (Luke 17:10 NIV)

Jesus uses an example of the relationship of a servant and master and how the master does not ask for the servant to come and eat with him but rather expects the servant to serve him food and then eat after the master is done because that is the servant’s job. We should have the same mentality with everything we do. We should not expect gratitude for doing what God has called us to do.

So this Lent season, let’s remind ourselves to not only be forgiven but to also forgive; to have true faith without doubts; and to be humble in whatever God calls us to do. Let us become more like Jesus and allow his Holy Spirit to control our lives.

- Shilpa Abraham

Day 30: My Love Will Find You Where You Are

Read Luke 13-14

In the book of Isaiah, God commands the people of Israel to have a day of fasting and worship; they all show up in fasting and worship and God basically says, “I hate your fasts.”

Wait what? If I were them, I would be saying “What are we doing here then? I would rather eat. I’m here because You said fast and come sing. And then I get here and You’re like, ‘I hate your songs, and I hate you fasting.’” It doesn’t make sense, right?

But WHY does God say that? His accusation is “Because your hearts aren’t here. You do not esteem Me. You have even taken this and made it about you.”

The Pharisees and those who knew the law were especially guilty of this, because it was what they knew to do. They took the law and followed it to the letter, but Jesus came and showed them that what He had to offer them was more than religion – it was love.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast (Luke 13:18-20)
At this point in Jesus’s ministry Jesus had been fulfilling all the signs the Jews had demanded, but when he did he was humble and would even tell those he performed his miracles on not to tell others. This is not what the Jews expected from the Messiah. They wanted something more grandeur, and “in your face.” To respond to this Jesus is basically like “your vision of the Kingdom is too small, let me tell you what it is actually like.” And so he says “It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” This is the exact opposite of a mighty, powerful God coming in and flashing his greatness. The image Jesus paints is of something small, like a seed or a little bit of yeast, that with time creates something beautiful, something much greater than it was on its own. Notice in both analogies there is someone who plants the seed and works the dough. That is the beauty of sanctification. We don’t come to him ready-made and perfect and THEN begin to do his will. We come to him with our burdened heart, our heavy baggage, our brokenness and shame. It is then that He refines and works our hearts to make them look like his.

Jesus at a Pharisee’s House (Luke 14:1-6)
Before this point Jesus had healed seven men and women on the Sabbath, which was against the law. The Pharisees didn’t know how to react to this so they set up a trap. They invited Jesus to eat on the Sabbath at the house of a “prominent Pharisee.” There, Jesus was being “carefully watched” to see how he would react when asked to heal a man with dropsy (whom the Pharisees most likely would not have invited otherwise to the house). If Jesus healed the man, then he would have broken the law; if he did not heal the man, then he would be without mercy or compassion. But to Jesus, God in the flesh, he knew the hearts of these men and turned the trap around so that it was on them by asking them first, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”, which left them silent. At this point Jesus made it more real to them by saying “If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day will you not immediately pull him out?” This has nothing to do with the Sabbath or the law. What Jesus was trying to show these men was that a father would forsake all laws to save what is precious in his sight.  Jesus yearns for us to look at others and see their hearts and to care about the state of their souls because that is how he looks at each of us.

The Cost of Being A Disciple (Luke 14:25-34)
The blessing, or the problem, that comes when Jesus has your heart is that your life changes. He becomes your way of life, your worldview, your purpose if life. The beginning of this portion starts off with “large crowds were traveling with Jesus.” It’s all the people that were intrigued by the healing, all those who jumped on the bandwagon, but also all the first time hearers of redemption, salvation, and hope. Verses 26-35 are Jesus basically telling this large crowd, “You wanna follow me? It’s not easy.” He makes the most piercing remark when he says “if anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, is brother and sisters – yes , even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.” And with that remark he gives them analogy after analogy about how in order to truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ you have to consider and plan for what is coming ahead of you, be ready to give up everything, and be willing to let God start and finish the work in you. If any of those three criteria are not met, your following Jesus is futile.

Reflection
In the song Orphaned One by Kayla Nichols, the lyrics are in the perspective of God speaking to us. I thought the words “my love, my love will find you where you are” perfectly summed up what Luke 13 and 14 were trying to show us. That is:

1. God wants our hearts right now, just as we are, and He will do the rest
2. God’s love is what enables us to look on others with love
3. God’s love will carry us through to do His will, even if that means giving up the ways of the World 

If we do these three things, we are no longer orphans living in the world, but children of a Father who is King of the Kingdom of Heaven.

My prayer is that this Lent is a time of growing in your affection for the Father, a time of true adoration of His perfect love that constantly pursues us, and a time of growth that I hope will make you strong enough to have been one of the few in that large crowd that stayed to be a disciple of Jesus.

Orphaned One Video and Lyrics:

Orphaned one, lift up your eyes
I've given you my name
You are mine
I know well the sound of your cries
And you won't be denied
For I'm by your side


For all my glory will shine upon your face
My justice and my mercy will reign over this place
Oh, my love, my love will find you where you are


I've placed my beauty as a crown upon your head
I'll exchange your filthy garments
And you'll be clothed in white instead
Oh, my love, my love will find you where you are

- Priya Mathew

Day 29: Worry Not About Tomorrow

Read Luke 12

Luke 12 contains a large wealth of knowledge that Jesus shared with his disciples. This chapter brings forth 7 important ideas that I would like to emphasize.

1. Hypocrites will be confronted and their hypocrisy will eventually be revealed. We think our sinful secrets are safe with us, but we often forget that we serve an omniscient God. In Luke 12, Jesus says that all of those hypocritical secrets will be revealed and shouted from the rooftops. He warns us to never follow the Pharisees in their hypocritical practices. 
2. Do not be afraid of men, or anything of this world, for it can only kill the body. After the body is dead, nothing in this world can do anything more to you. Instead, be afraid of God Almighty, who after the killing of the body, can throw you into hell fire for eternity. Something we fail to realize completely is that eternity is copiously longer than our time on Earth. So let us learn to delay the gratifications that this World has to offer, reject the temptations thrown at us, and march bravely towards an eternity in which we will be one with our Savior. As Romans 12:12 reminds us, “Be Joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” 
3. Being greedy is very foolish. Jesus takes the time to explain to a man that our lives are much more than the abundance of our possessions. Take a moment right now and think about how far into the future you have planned for yourself. Most of us desire to join a profession with a six figure salary, some of us have already planned the type of cars and houses we want to own. Almost every one of us are constantly striving for financial and materialistic gains. Jesus call this an act of foolishness. Now, imagine what would happen if you achieved every single of your goals, and possessed everything you wanted, but your life is taken soon after. You will not be able to take any of your Worldly treasures with you to heaven. So instead of storing up treasures in this world for ourselves, let us start storing up treasures in heaven, which will be given to us in due time. Because Jesus reminds us that in Heaven “… no thief comes near, and no moth destroys” (Luke 12:33). 
4. Worrying is illogical. This is a very vital message given by Jesus in this chapter. Why do we worry so much? Worrying is by far the most un-productive activity we indulge in within our lives. Many of us like to believe that we are logical thinkers, but where is the logic when we find ourselves worrying over an issue that did not go as we planned it to go. Jesus asks, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Jesus gives us examples on how the Lilies grow without doing any labor and how the ravens are healthy and well fed without going through any stress. If God takes care of a flower, which is here today and gone tomorrow, and birds, he will surely give us an ample amount of care and provisions to fulfill our needs. Jesus wants us to realize that we are worth much more than the birds or the flowers, so let us stop worrying and have faith in Jesus to provide for us everything we need. Because in the root of all of this, worrying is a sign of ones lack of faith in his creator. 
5. Being alert is very crucial. Jesus Cautions us to be alert at all times for his coming. His return will be when we least expect it to be. A good way to be watchful is by constantly asking ourselves whether we are ready to meet Jesus at this very moment, if He was to make his return right now. If the answer is not a resounding “Yes!” then start bringing the changes required to make the answer a resounding “Yes!” Do not take this time for granted, use it to reconcile your differences with God and start doing his Will as soon as possible. Because Jesus (Our master) has commanded us (His servants) to do His will. When he comes down and sees you doing His will, he will surely reward you. 
6. Is Jesus a man of peace? Yes, Jesus was a man of peace, but in Luke 12 Jesus says that he has come to bring division instead of peace. The meaning behind this is that Jesus’s principles were completely opposite of the principles that were/is practiced on Earth. Whenever we have two opposing ideas trying to co-exist at the same time in the same place, there is likely to be a disruption of peace and an increase in division. We can never follow the World and Jesus at the same time. We have to choose one or the other. If we choose to follow Jesus, we will encounter many tribulations. Many times these hardships are thrown at us from our own family members, and loved ones. These are the divisions that Jesus is hinting towards in this passage. 
7. Jesus wants us to interpret the times accurately. With the help of technology, we are able to evade disasters such as Earthquakes and Hurricanes quite accurately. But on the other hand, our ability to discern spiritual problems seem to be lacking adequate skill. God reveals himself to us in many ways, if we truly seek him with all of our heart and soul, he will give us everything we need to do his will. Jesus also gives us a vivid illustration to point out how urgent it is to get right with him. If you knew you did something wrong and were about to get penalized for it, would not you rather settle the issue outside of the court? We are at God’s mercy at all times, His call to us is urgent, so in this Lenten season, let us be reconciled with our heavenly father. 

Let us bring together all these 7 principles during this Lenten season by focusing on simple living, prayer, and fasting in order to grow closer to God. May God bless you all.

- Kevin Thomas

Day 27: Come Alive

Read Luke 10-11

As children in school we were often asked to pick out the main idea of a story or passage. We focused on the important parts of the passage and ignored the minute details. Reading the bible often becomes a cursory glance at the important names and dialogue in the specific chapter. We don’t delve into the specifics of why Jesus said certain things or what he meant by them. Why were the disciples sent out in pairs? Why were they asked to not speak to anyone they came across on the road? Delving into the scripture helps us discern the importance of the details.

Our purpose of spreading the Gospel was not designed to be a solo mission.

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” - Luke 10: 1-2

We are blessed with brothers and sisters, sharers of the gospel, and spreaders of the truth. We are united in a common goal of extending the Kingdom. Living in the 21st century, we are encouraged to be independent and not rely on anyone else for support, to be self sufficient, self reliant, and self-sustaining. However, throughout the bible, people who had a key impact in delivering the Word had a fellow brother or sister to lean on. Naomi had Ruth, Moses had Aaron, Abraham had Sarah, and Mordecai had Esther. Likewise, we need a firm relationship with fellow Christians. We need a confidant, partner, encourager, and advisor; someone to lean on and someone to carry.

“Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.” - Luke 10:3,4

There are no delusions about what is asked of us.

“Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”

The path we are asked to take is not easy but filled with obstacles. We are not meant to arm ourselves with worldly possessions, but with the fruits of the Spirit. Lambs don’t have a defensive strategy to protect themselves from the wolves. They rely completely on the Shepherd to shield them. Similarly, we have no weapons against the wolves of the world other than our Lord. How will any of the objects of wealth we amass be greater than the Shepherd who knows all, sees all, and is willing to lay his life down for his lambs?

“Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.”

At first glance, it looks like Jesus is telling us to ignore or avoid people we meet. However, he foresaw a problem that would hinder us and warned us against it. In that time period, greetings were often long affairs. Consequently, Jesus is asking us to not get distracted in our mission. Our end goal is to glorify His name and exalt His glory. When we get sidetracked, we lose focus of who we are and what our goal is. We treat everyone with kindness, we promote equality and stewardship, and in those things we strive to praise Him. Nevertheless, the little things we do should become our primary focus. Fellowship is good, service is good, and stewardship is good. But why are we having fellowship with our brothers and sisters? Why do we go to service? Why are we volunteering and giving our time and money to those who need it? If the answers are to have fun, to catch up, or to present ourselves as benefactors, we have already lost sight of the finish line. Discernment and an untarnished view of our Savior is how we strive onward.

Being a disciple of Christ isn’t easy work. Nonetheless, it is not all work without reward. We are advised to “remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house” (Luke 10:7). The Lord provides for those who do His work. Being a Christian is not about giving up all the pleasures this world has to offer and living a stark deprived life. We can enjoy all things that He has created, in due time. When things are given to us, we accept with open hands and hearts instead of striving to the next newest and greatest addition. We are made in His image to be free and fruitful. We are created with a purpose and given resources to fulfill that purpose. We are the workers of His vineyard, of His harvest, and he rewards us amply for our work at the end.

Our work is to spread the Good News, to enlighten those who have not yet heard, and to be an unwavering light to those who’s lights have been snuffed out by the world. However, we each need help as well. We are not impervious to the temptations and evils that surround us. Doubts, fears, worries, financial problems, moral dilemmas, and the ever-increasing pressure to stumble constantly batter us. Ultimately, we crumble. We stumble, we fall, and sometimes we don’t get back up. Then, when we do get back up, it’s to patch a little Band-Aid over a gaping wound and pretend that we’re okay. Jesus knew this would happen so he warned us of the Devil’s tenacious grip. 

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first" -Luke 11:24-26.

Patching a Band-Aid over a severed limb will not stem the flow of blood. Falling into sin is similar. Once we have fallen, it is necessary to completely restore our hearts and minds. A quick prayer, a halfhearted confession, or a single reading of a Psalms will not do. Once we have banished the evil from our hearts, we must invite someone even stronger, greater, deeper, and wider to fill us, to overcome and overwhelm us. Only then will we have the courage and desire to fight back when evil knocks on our heart again.

We have been given instruction and we are well prepared to be His soldiers. We are warriors in this war together. We are one in spirit, mind and soul. When one of us falls, we depend on the rest to pick us back up. We look to our commander, who has lead through example, showing and telling us exactly what to do. We walk in His footsteps, focused on our mission, empowered with the knowledge that He who has created the universe, defeated Death, and conquered evil walks among us and lives within us.

- Nikita Sojan

Day 26: I Will Follow You

Read Luke 8-9

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” (Luke 9:57)

• What does it mean to truly follow Christ? Well we must have the desire to accept the life He offers. We must be determined to accept who He is and know that He is the source of our wisdom and knowledge. Nowadays if someone were to come up to us and say “I am ready to follow Jesus!,” we would say, “Oh how awesome! We have a bible study at our church this Friday, you should totally come out!” or at least something along those lines, right? But here in this passage, we see Christ doing something completely different. When the three men tell Jesus they want to follow Him, he kind of just smacks them on the nose.
• To the first man, He says “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). Jesus is telling the man to slow down and that he is going too fast. He says He is not the type of Messiah who wins the world by simply winning an election or winning a battle. He says He wins the world by being arrested and being condemned. He reassures the man that he would be living in a lower standard than everyone else by following him. As Christians, would we be ready to face those hardships? 
• The second man is slowly coming to Christ. "Jesus says, 'Follow me.'" But he said, “Lord let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead” (Luke 9:59). He’s certainly not talking about the physically dead. He’s talking about the spiritually dead (A person who is blind and deaf to a spiritual environment). 
• “Yet another said, I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” The third man that wants to follow Christ but is also coming slowly. “Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:61-62). Christ uses a powerful metaphor here. When you are using a plow in the soil, you have to make sure there aren't any rocks because it could break the plow. You are laser focused on that plow. Christ says to be laser focused on him and nothing else. Follow him and no one else. He must come first. 
• What’s significant about these two men is that they are both willing to follow Christ. Their responses were “Yes, Lord,” “You, Lord,” “I will follow you, Lord,” but they have that “But wait, Lord. My family first.” He’s not saying that you shouldn't honor your father and mother. He’s not saying to not obey the commandments. What Jesus is expressing through is that you must make Him first. You must believe that what He thinks is better than what the world we live in believes. 
• Now if he were to talk to us youths in Dallas he’d probably say: 
• Following me is more important than making a lot of money.
• Following me is more important than getting that perfect girl or guy. 
• Following me is more important than trying to please your friends or trying to fit in. 
• Following him is more important! 
• As children of God, we say, “We want to follow you, God.” But we have a hard time putting Him first. We have Him in our lives as a supplement. We want Him in our lives to add more. “I’ll obey you, if…” or “I’ll obey you, as long as…” Christ says whatever is on the other side to those "if’s", "but’s" and "as long as", is your real master. He says that can’t be. Friends, we all do this. We are blind and deaf to the spiritual reality. We must be willing to give up ourselves to Christ so that he can remove all those dead scales and make us new.

The songs “Broken Vessels” and “Lord I Need You” hit me while I was doing this devotional.

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now I'm found
Was blind but now I see

Oh I can see it now
Oh I can see the love in Your eyes
Laying yourself down
Raising up the broken to life

Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

So to follow Christ, we must spend time with Him, observe Him, let Him instruct and correct us and we must seek Him to model ourselves after Him.

-Angela Abraham