Today’s Reading: Exodus 6; Luke 9; Job 23; 1 Corinthians 10
In today’s reading Jesus tells his disciples to take nothing with them but to go proclaim the word and heal. Jesus assured them that he would provide at all times. This same assurance he has given to us today. Sometimes in our own personal lives when the day has been long, stressful, and has you running all over the place its reassuring to take a breathe and know God will provide all we need. God cares for us.
1 Peter 5:7 says to cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
In Luke 9 after a long day of speaking and healing Jesus was not ready to just send people away. He provided food to 5,000 people that were hungry. (There was even left-overs). When the disciples were ready to call it a night, Jesus was focused on everyone else needs. He is always focused on us in every aspect of our life the physical as well as the spiritual.
Matthew 20:28 the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
What an amazing example for us and how we can live our life. The next verse is one of my pocket versus (literally).
Luke 9:23 If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
I carry this verse around with me in my back pocket along with a few others because it is a reminder to submit my life to Him at all times. Putting aside my own selfish desires that I lived with for many years. I still struggle with selfishness but prayerfully look to God now as much as I can. I will continue to pray along this journey as we live our life for His purposes. In my own experiences when I’m doing things for myself and not for God’s kingdom I’m often hurting myself or others and ultimately hurting God when he has asked us to “follow me”. Our testimony’s are amazing examples of the divine plan he has for our lives when we submit to him. Am I willing to deny myself and my ambitions to take up my cross and follow him? Following Jesus is easy when life is going good; our true commitment to Him is revealed during trials. Here are a few questions to ponder.
- Would I still follow Jesus if it meant losing friends?
- Would I follow Jesus if I lost a family member?
- Would I still follow Jesus if it meant those uncomfortable conversations with family?
- Would I still follow Jesus if it meant the loss of my reputation?
- Would I still follow Jesus if it meant losing my job?
- Would I still follow Jesus if it meant losing my life?
Luke 9:59 – 62 says “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus[g] said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Dear God, I know you love me where I’m at and I often have a “but let me” attitude when you want me to do something. I ask to give me a total dedication life to you God that you deserve. I know I’m not always dedicated like I know I should be please give me your courage, strength, and guidance to “take up my cross” and give my life to you daily. When facing various trials remind me that in Psalms 16:5 you say Lord, are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands. God, in Philippians 3:13 you remind us to keep our faith in you. “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”.
Amen