Undivided attention, uncompromised commitment, unwavering obedience

By Dean Collins

Today was one of those days where I struggled early to find undivided attention so I could get some work accomplished I needed to finish. There were lots of interruptions. And all the interruptions came from people I love and care about. Some were family, and some were work-related; some had to do with fixing old problems, and some with new opportunities. Each person and situation was important and valuable, and each competed with the previous interruption for my attention.

In addition to the needs of others and the busyness of schedules, many voices and noises in daily life can interrupt our focus. We are drowned by multiple messages daily. Maintaining our attention on what is first and most important is a daily challenge achieved only through faithful discipleship. If we forget our main purpose of reflecting God’s image and glory in all we do, life becomes a series of tasks that lose their value and meaning. When I slowed myself down, I began to think about what Jesus has to say about this topic.

Clear instruction

In Matthew 8 we read of several healing miracles Jesus performed. Three individuals are named or described, followed by a statement that reported several demon-possessed or sick people were brought to Jesus, and he healed them all. Matthew then quotes Isaiah: “This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, ‘He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases’” (v. 17).

The crowd continued to grow after each of the events recorded in chapter 8 and for good reason. Hundreds were being healed. Lives were changed. God’s miraculous power was on display through the words and hands of Jesus. Many were tagging along with the disciples of Jesus. When Jesus saw the crowd growing he looked around and gave them an instruction.

Wouldn’t you love to have an instruction from Jesus? Imagine going about your day, maybe even prayerfully, when suddenly Jesus turns and says, “Here is exactly what I want you to do.” Clarity like that seems life-changing.

Matthew 8 shows us Jesus looking at the crowd and saying, “Cross to the other side of the lake.” That’s it. That was the instruction. There wasn’t specific clarity about what would happen on the other side, just that the disciples were to go there. I imagine some in the crowd (and hopefully we would be like this group) simply starting the walk along the shore to the other side or hitching rides from local fishermen with empty seats on their vessels. No one knew what they were to see, do, or receive on the other side; they were simply told to go.

More information

A couple of people in the crowd wanted more information from Jesus before they made their decision. One religious scholar said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Sounds like a strong answer to me. We don’t know if he added something Matthew didn’t share, but Jesus sensed the question behind the statement and he replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

Jesus was telling the religious leader, “If you follow me, please understand I am not about stuff and places. I am about people, all of them. You won’t be happy if you are looking for things to be the same, because following me is an all-in proposition.”

The second disciple wanted to stage his discipleship decision. He need to clean up some things before he obeyed the instruction. He said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” Jesus replied with words we might think are too harsh for someone who lost a parent. “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”

Most scholars do not think Jesus was refusing or would hinder someone from attending a funeral but rather that the man who was asking for permission or clarification was implying it would be awhile because he had to settle the estate, the inheritance, and on and on. When all that was behind him, then he would catch up with Jesus. I suspect we would confess sad moments in our walk of faith where we sent Jesus the same message. After I get my degree, after my finances are in a better place, after I get married, after the kids are grown and gone, and on and on. But Jesus is calling us to go with him now.

Big issue

The big issue in this small text I think had to do with what or who was on the other side of the lake. If you continue reading, you soon discover that Jesus was headed to the region of the Gadarenes or Gerasenes. These people on the other side of the lake were mostly pagan and included those who raised pigs for a living. Neither the people nor the occupation would have been inviting to those of Jewish heritage and faith.

If we are to follow Jesus, then we must be willing to give him our undivided commitment. There can be no exceptions. Jesus wants us to trust that he will go with us and will be our shelter. He wants us to understand that his mission is for all people and we must be ready and available when he instructs us to go to the other side of the lake. And we must understand that he wants to use all of us to love and bless others. We are to love and serve on our schedule and not on our schedule. When he calls, we go. Where he leads we follow.

Lord, we confess we are often divided. We place our work, our families, our interests, and our money in neat little compartments. We confess we try to manage the compartments and even your access to them. Forgive us. Today we offer our one life to you and ask you to lead us where you want us and use us to make your glory known to others. We will go to whatever “other side” you call us to today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your time with God’s Word
Matthew 8:18-22, NLT

Photo by Mario Gogh on Unsplash

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