the cost of following Jesus

as they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "i will follow you where you go."
Jesus replied, "foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
he said to another man, "follow me."
but the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
Jesus said to him, "let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
still another said, "i will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family."
Jesus replied, "no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in th kingdom of God." ~luke 9:57-62

what are your first thoughts about this passage? harsh words?? that's what i thought. but after tonight's bible study, i think that i have a lot to learn, and hopefully, i will be able to start applying these to my character, so i can learn to be more like Jesus. the three different people in this passage show us different characteristics that i see very evident in my own life.

the first guy is probably thinking in a one dimensional way - he doesnt know what it takes to follow Jesus. there is no home for the Son of Man. we need to take up the cross daily, not just when we feel like it.
the second guy seems like he's bargining with Jesus. let me follow after my traditions first, then i will follow you. but what about next time another tradition arises?? what's going to happen then? i want to finish the things i want to do first, then i will follow you.
then there's the third guy who wants to take some of his past with him. but that cannot happen.

are we ready right at this instant?? would we be willing to give up *everything* at the snap of fingers if Jesus called us to.....??

two key things to start doing:
1 - change the way you think
2 - change the way you act accordingly