While we have received great freedom in Christ, we must not use such freedom for our own selfish desires. We use our freedom to follow Jesus. We follow Jesus by receiving His forgiveness and living and walking in the Spirit of God, prayerfully and humbly seeking to produce His fruit for the benefit of our neighbors. (Gal 5.1, 13-25) We cannot have caveats and conditions to following Jesus, as some people did in today’s Gospel. (Luke 9.51-61) Caveats and conditions are conceited and arrogant. Should we make demands of God? Thanks be to God that Jesus knows better than we do and forgives. His Word is true. As Elijah learned (1 Kgs 19.9b-21), where He is leading is infinitely better than where we choose to go with all of our worries or caveats and conditions.