Grip the Plow

In this passage, Jesus doesn’t mince words about the radical demands of living faith. As He walks along the road (Luke 9:57), he addresses three potential followers. When the third wants to go and bid his family farewell, Jesus says, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (vs. 61-62). These words are hard to hear, but they’re honest. Jesus says, if you’re with me, then you’re with me. There’s no lukewarm faith allowed here; there’s too much at stake to play it safe. Grip the plow, get your hands dirty in the fields, get to work, and don’t give up. It’s not hard to imagine why so many people wanted to follow Jesus and learn from Him. What is hard to grasp, though, is how hard He made it for them to come and follow: give up your house, skip your father’s funeral, leave home without saying goodbye. It may seem harsh, but Jesus knew the high cost was worth the reward. We are called to grip the plow with both hands and not look back. As a Church, we do not want to be content with simply attending a church; we want to engage in a community committed to working in the fields and completing the mission. A follower is not someone who attends; a follower is personally engaged.