03. “Let Me First…”, When Obedience Keeps Getting Delayed
The People Who Almost Followed Jesus · Part 03
Luke 9:57-62
Some of the most dangerous words a follower of Jesus can say are not:
“I will never obey.”
They are:
“Lord… let me first.”
In Luke 9, several people appeared ready to follow Jesus.
They were interested.
They were willing.
They were close.
But when Jesus called them to follow, something else suddenly became more urgent.
One said:
“Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
Another said:
“I will follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say goodbye to those who are at my house.”
Notice the words:
“Lord… but first.”
That contradiction should disturb us.
If Jesus is truly Lord, how can something else continually come first?
We Rarely Say “No” to Jesus
Most Christians would never look at Jesus and say:
“I refuse to obey You.”
Our resistance is usually more respectable than that.
“I will obey when life settles down.”
“I will make disciples when I have more time.”
“I will share my faith when I feel more confident.”
“I will start that Discovery Bible Study when I find the right people.”
“I will go when my finances improve.”
“I will surrender that area eventually.”
Later.
And later can sound remarkably spiritual.
But delayed obedience is still disobedience.
The Problem Wasn’t Necessarily What They Wanted to Do
Burying a father sounds honorable.
Saying goodbye to your family sounds reasonable.
Jesus was not teaching us to dishonor our families.
He was exposing something deeper:
Nothing can be allowed to outrank His call.
The issue is not always whether the thing competing for our attention is bad.
Sometimes the greatest obstacles to obedience are good things we have allowed to become first things.
Family.
Career.
Comfort.
Security.
Retirement.
Church activities.
Financial plans.
Even ministry.
And Jesus still asks:
“Will you follow Me now?”
“First” Reveals the Heart
We often imagine that surrender means giving Jesus part of our lives.
Jesus asks for something much greater.
First place.
Not one priority among many.
Not Sunday morning.
Not whatever remains after our plans have been protected.
First.
Jesus said:
“No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.”, Luke 9:62, WEB
A farmer looking backward cannot plow a straight furrow.
And a disciple constantly looking backward, toward comfort, security, possessions, relationships, or the old life, will struggle to move forward with Jesus.
What Are You Still Putting Before Obedience?
Perhaps Jesus has already spoken.
You already know the person you need to forgive.
You already know the neighbor you need to reach.
You already know the person you should begin discipling.
You already know the habit you need to surrender.
You already know the conversation you need to have.
You already know the step of faith you need to take.
The issue may no longer be:
“What does Jesus want me to do?”
The issue may simply be:
“When am I going to obey?”
And every time we answer “later,” we train our hearts to resist His voice a little longer.
There Is Always Going to Be a “First”
There will always be another responsibility.
Another expense.
Another busy season.
Another reason to wait.
Another fear to overcome.
Another qualification you think you need.
If you wait until obedience becomes convenient, you may wait your entire life.
The Great Commission will not be completed by disciples who intend to obey someday.
It will be completed by ordinary followers of Jesus who hear His voice and say:
“Yes, Lord. Now.”
Maybe the Question Isn’t Whether You Will Follow Jesus
Maybe it is whether you will follow Him without conditions.
Without:
“After I…”
“When I…”
“Once I…”
“If things become easier…”
“Let me first…”
Jesus is still calling:
“Follow Me.”
Not eventually.
Not when everything else is finished.
Now.
So ask yourself:
What have I been putting before my obedience to Jesus?
And perhaps an even harder question:
If Jesus has already told me what to do, what exactly am I waiting for?
“Later” may be one of the most dangerous answers we can give Jesus.
Because sometimes “later” quietly becomes “never.”
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