No “Buts” When Following the Lord
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:62, NKJV
Often, we come to God with a willing heart, but with a list of conditions in our hands. We say, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me take care of this matter,” or “I will serve You, but when I have greater financial stability.” These “buts” are anchors that keep us tied to a life of indecision and spiritual mediocrity. The call of Jesus is not an invitation to negotiate terms, but a radical call to absolute surrender. Looking back while trying to move forward in the Kingdom not only twists the furrow of our lives, but also reveals that our hearts still find more value in what we left behind than in what lies ahead in Christ.
- The trap of postponement
The enemy does not always ask us to reject God; sometimes he simply suggests that we follow Him “later.” Postponement is a subtle form of disobedience that extinguishes the movement of the Spirit within us. When we place temporary excuses before an eternal calling, we are declaring that our plans are more urgent than God’s designs.
- The danger of a divided gaze
Putting your hand to the plow requires total focus. If our eyes are fixed on the past, on mistakes we have made, or on the pleasures we left behind, we will lose our direction. The Christian life demands a forward-looking vision, trusting that what God has prepared on the horizon is infinitely greater than what was left behind in Egypt.
- Fitness for the Kingdom
Jesus says that the one who looks back is not “fit.” This does not mean that God discards us because of our weaknesses, but that a divided heart cannot withstand the weight and glory of ministerial responsibility. To be useful vessels, we need an unshakable determination that does not break under nostalgia or regret for having left the world behind.
- The urgency of the divine calling
When God calls, the time is today. The disciples who immediately left their nets understood that the opportunity to walk with the Master does not present itself twice under the same circumstances. Following the Lord without reservations means understanding that there is nothing safer than being at the center of His will, even if that means leaving behind the comfort of the familiar.
Following the Lord requires us to let go of the excuses we have created to protect ourselves from total surrender. You cannot plow a new field while dragging the chains of yesterday. The Kingdom of God advances through men and women who have decided that there is no turning back, who have burned their ships, and who have fixed their eyes firmly on the cross. If today you feel that your “buts” have built a wall between you and your purpose, it is time to tear them down with a firm and unconditional “yes.” God is not looking for perfect people; He is looking for determined people who do not look back, but toward the harvest He has already prepared.
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:62, NKJV
Think About It:
- What is the most frequent “but” you present before God when you feel the impulse to serve Him or seek Him with greater surrender?
- What situations or memories from the past act as a distraction that keeps you from moving forward firmly in your spiritual life today?
- Write a commitment of total surrender, specifically renouncing one excuse that has kept you from fully obeying God in this season.