“Then a teacher of the law came to Jesus and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you any place you go.’ Jesus said to him, ‘The foxes have holes to live in. The birds have nests to live in. But the Son of Man has no place where he can rest his head.’” (Matthew 8:19-20, NCV)

    Comfort is today’s key word. We seek what makes us comfortable. We use technology to make life easier and render it more pleasant. Air conditioning, refrigerated food, instantaneous communication, upholstered furniture, soft beds. We might well choose the pillow as the sign of our times.

We might well choose the pillow as the sign of our times.

    Religion follows the same road with promises of riches and health, light doctrine and loose morality. People look for churches where they can feel comfortable.

    A scribe became enamored with Jesus. He promised to follow him wherever the road might take him. But Jesus explains his way is not easy. It is full of hardships and privations.

    Our Lord does not welcome just anyone. He accepts as his disciple only the person who is willing to give up comfort to join the Master, sacrificing carnal desires and depriving himself in this world in order to gain a heavenly reward.

    Because pillows and crosses don’t mix.

    Lord of all comfort and consolation, the flesh wants it easy and the spirit desires your presence. May we say no to the flesh to satisfy the spirit, as did your Son and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:2, NIV)