Daily Word - Loyalty - Luke 9:51-56

Scripture:
Luke 9:51-56 (English Standard Version)
A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus
51When the days drew near for(A) him to be taken up,(B) he set his face(C) to go to Jerusalem. 52And(D) he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of(E) the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53But(F) the people did not receive him, because(G) his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell(H) fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"[a] 55But he turned and rebuked them.[b] 56And they went on to another village.
Footnotes:
Luke 9:54 Some manuscripts add as Elijah did
Luke 9:55 Some manuscripts add and he said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them”
Cross references:
Luke 9:51 : Mark 16:19
Luke 9:51 : 2 Kgs 12:17; Isa 50:7; Jer 42:15
Luke 9:51 : Luke 13:22; 17:11; 18:31; 19:11, 28
Luke 9:52 : Luke 10:1
Luke 9:52 : Matt 10:5
Luke 9:53 : John 4:9; Luke 10:33
Luke 9:53 : John 4:20
Luke 9:54 : Rev 13:13

Reflection:
God's grace through faith in Christ sets us free from everything that would keep us from following him. When Jesus made preparation to enter a Samaritan village he was met with opposition, no doubt because the Samaritans perceived that he belonged to the other party they were in dispute with. The Jews and Samaritans had been divided for centuries. Jesus' disciples were indignant and wanted to see retribution. Jesus, in turn, rebukes them for their lack of love for a person of different dissent. Jesus had set his face toward Jerusalem in order to die so that all nations might be reconciled with God and be made one in Christ. When the Lord calls us to follow him he gives us the grace to put aside everything that might keep us from doing his will. Loyalty to Jesus demands sacrifice, especially the sacrifice of one's own will for the will of God. A would-be disciple responded by saying, I must first go and bury my father, that is, go back home and take care of him until he died. Jesus surprised his disciples by telling that they must not look back on what they have freely given up, but instead keep their focus clearly on the goal they have set for their lives, union and happiness with God in his kingdom. A plowman who looked back caused his furrow to be crooked. Likewise, if we look back our path will likely diverge and we'll miss what God has for us. When the going is rough or the way ahead looks uncertain, we are tempted to look back to the "good old days" or to look for "greener turf". Are you resolved to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and to "stay the course" in following him to the end?

Prayer For The Day:
Heavenly Father, keep my mind fixed on the surpassing joys stored up for me in your kingdom. And let me be willing to put up with all the suffering, hardship, and pain that may come my way in serving you.