TUESDAY- 3RD JUNE, 2025
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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO
THE POSSIBILITY OF BACKSLIDING - Minding Your Calling Series 003
Matthew 8:21, KJV
"21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead."
There's the possibility of backsliding or going back on your call. If you looked at the two verses above, you'll see that the fellow who raised the issue of going back with Jesus is someone the Bible recognizes as a "disciple."
A disciple is someone with a call to follow and who may be already following. However, this brother received a situation report where he was serving as an apprentice in order to become a master in the footsteps of Jesus that a family member just died and that he must be involved in the burial rites. Who will not want to pay his last respect to his father?
Then, the temptation arose. What's the temptation? The temptation to participate. The temptation to be seen to have participated. The temptation not to be a lesser son of one's father. The temptation to be called a good son by the community for having shown up. So, he told Jesus to let him go back and attend to the family - to the burying of his father.
However, what did Jesus reply with. "Follow me and let the dead bury their dead."
Do you know why Jesus responded with that? While it's good to pay last respect to our parents, family or the dead yet it must not be at the expense of our calling or the destiny training that we shouldn't carry over. Priority is necessary in this life. The dead is dead and gone. His assignment has ended. He cannot desire or devise to do anything again. So, why should a man that has achieved his own and closed his chapter take you out of your own holy call to follow Jesus even where you are in the hinterland serving as a missionary, a gospel bearer or a minister. Jesus is teaching us priority. Whenever there is a clash between services to God and social occasions, we know which to let go.
Don't worry. The dead will be taken care of. When Jesus said, "let the dead bury their dead", it means there are certain people on ground already who'll ensure the dead man is given a befitting burial. As for you, God has collected you for Himself. You're His chosen and because you are, you must be sanctified and hallowed unto Him. God has special jealousy protecting you from any other thing that wants to use you or have your attention. That's why Jesus' reply to that man was, "follow me, let the dead bury their dead."
God will continue to free your time especially if you have calling, are called or have been sent. God wants you to have time not only to imitate Him but to serve Him. As such, God can raise certain people to do some common assignments that you could have been distracted to do. By this, He preserves you for the holy and your calling. As long as you carry the vow to serve God that is second to none and it shows in your heart, God will free time for you. He'll give you a job that doesn't contest with your Bible Study or preaching engagements. He'll preserve your time out of jealousy and you'll remain the sanctified and separated of the Lord.
I pray for you, nothing shall take you out of God's presence, His imitation and His service.
PRAYER: Lord, may I decipher between the common and the holy. May I not allow emotion and attachment to family to get the better of me.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
John 18:1-27 & I Chronicles 11-13
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