What Jesus Did! 'First Priority: Following Jesus' — Luke 9:59-60

Saturday, June 24, 2023

Blessed Christmas!

Our prayer is that the presence of Jesus be with you and fill you with hope, peace, and love!

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[Jesus] said to another person, "Come, follow me."

The man agreed, but he said, "Lord, first let me return home and bury my father."

But Jesus told him, "Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God."

— Luke 9:59-60 NLT

Key Thought

Following Christ is our highest priority. Nothing should stand in our way. Does that mean abandoning our responsibility to our families? Certainly not! God makes clear that how we live in our families is crucial to our discipleship and to our leadership. However, we so often use family concerns as excuses for not following rather than reconciling family matters with Kingdom values and priorities. Jesus must come first. God and his Kingdom must be THE priority in our families. Our families must see honoring God as the primary value lived out in our own personal lives.

Today's Prayer

Give me wisdom, O God, to make you and your Kingdom THE primary value of my home. Help me demonstrate your compassion and your holy character in my interactions with my loved ones. Help me be loyal, faithful, and supportive of them so they will see those characteristics in me and know that my heart's first allegiance is to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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2 Related Resources by Heartlight

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Illustration

Illustration of Luke 9:59-60 NLT — "Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, June 24, 2023

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2 Corinthians 5:16
"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer."
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'Righteously and Devoutly Waiting' (Lk. 2:25)
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'No Distinctions' (Co. 3:5-10)
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Passion for Praise
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'He Has Done Great Things for Me!' (Lk. 1:49-52)
"[Mary responded] "For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him......"

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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