Stop Looking Back
"Yet another said, 'I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.' Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'" - Luke 9:61-62
Following Jesus is not a part-time invitation. It is a forward-facing call that requires focus. In this passage, a man says he’s ready to follow but still wants to go back and handle unfinished business. He calls Jesus “Lord,” but his words reveal something deeper. He says, “Let me first.” That one phrase shows where his priority really is.
Jesus responds with a vivid image. He says no one who puts their hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom. That’s not a suggestion to try harder. It’s a warning about divided hearts. A plow only works when the farmer looks ahead. If you keep turning around, you end up with a crooked path. You destroy the very field you were supposed to prepare.
This doesn’t mean you forget your past. It means you do not long for it. When God calls you forward, it’s because He has something better. But many people miss it because they’re still staring at what used to be. They hesitate. They want to follow but hold on to comfort, approval, or old habits just in case.
The call to follow Jesus is not one of half-measures. It is a call to leave behind whatever held you back. To press ahead with both hands on the plow. To set your eyes on where He is leading.
If you feel stuck in your faith, maybe the problem is not where you are going, but where you keep looking. Jesus is ahead of you, not behind you. Stop looking back. Keep your eyes on Him. That is where your future begins.
Following Jesus is not a part-time invitation. It is a forward-facing call that requires focus. In this passage, a man says he’s ready to follow but still wants to go back and handle unfinished business. He calls Jesus “Lord,” but his words reveal something deeper. He says, “Let me first.” That one phrase shows where his priority really is.
Jesus responds with a vivid image. He says no one who puts their hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom. That’s not a suggestion to try harder. It’s a warning about divided hearts. A plow only works when the farmer looks ahead. If you keep turning around, you end up with a crooked path. You destroy the very field you were supposed to prepare.
This doesn’t mean you forget your past. It means you do not long for it. When God calls you forward, it’s because He has something better. But many people miss it because they’re still staring at what used to be. They hesitate. They want to follow but hold on to comfort, approval, or old habits just in case.
The call to follow Jesus is not one of half-measures. It is a call to leave behind whatever held you back. To press ahead with both hands on the plow. To set your eyes on where He is leading.
If you feel stuck in your faith, maybe the problem is not where you are going, but where you keep looking. Jesus is ahead of you, not behind you. Stop looking back. Keep your eyes on Him. That is where your future begins.
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