By Shawn Blackmon
Have you ever started something with excitement, only to quit when it became difficult? Most of us have.
A new diet. A gym membership. A new job. A ministry. A relationship. We begin with enthusiasm, but when the excitement fades and the sacrifice begin, commitment is tested. The truth is, there’s a big difference between being interested and being committed. Interest shows up when it’s convenient. Commitment keeps showing up when it’s hard.
In Luke 9, several men told Jesus they wanted to follow Him. On the surface, it sounded like a wonderful decision. But Jesus looked beyond their words and into their hearts. He knew they were interested, but He was looking for something deeper.
He was looking for commitment. One man wanted comfort before commitment. Another wanted to delay obedience until a more convenient time. A third wanted to keep looking back at what he was leaving behind. Jesus’ response reminds us that following Him has never been about convenience. It’s about surrender.
Many people want the blessings of Christ without the cost of discipleship. We want the resurrection, but not the cross. We want victory, but not sacrifice. We want God to move us forward while we keep glancing over our shoulder at the past. But you can’t move forward while constantly looking backward. You can’t fully embrace what God is calling you to if you’re still holding on to what He’s calling you out of.
Maybe you’re looking back at a failed relationship. Maybe you’re looking back at a mistake you’ve made. Maybe you’re looking back at hurt, disappointment, or regret. The past can become so familiar that we begin to romanticize what God has already delivered us from. Jesus isn’t asking us to pretend the past never happened. He’s asking us not to live there. God has too much ahead of you for you to spend your life staring behind you.
Following Jesus requires forward faith. It means trusting Him even when the road is uncertain. It means obeying when it’s uncomfortable. It means believing His future is greater than your past.
So today, make a decision. Stop looking back. Stop delaying. Stop settling for being merely interested. Go all in. Because the greatest things God has prepared for you will never be found in yesterday. They’re waiting for you on the road ahead.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me to something greater than my past. Give me the courage to let go of what is behind me and the faith to follow wherever You lead. Help me choose commitment over convenience and obedience over delay. Keep my eyes fixed on You and strengthen me to never turn back. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Walk in grace. Stand in truth. Live blessed.
Pastor Shawn Blackmon serves as the Lead Pastor of UNITY Church in Attalla, Alabama, where his preaching is real, relevant and rooted in the unchanging Word of God. Beyond the pulpit, he serves as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Alabama, leading life-changing mentoring initiatives that empower young people across five counties.
