Founded by Bryant Wright, Right from the Heart is a
daily injection of truth, reminding you about what
matters most in life. Basically, we cut the fluff and
get right to the point.
Taking Up the Cross Jan 30 2010
"Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of Him when He comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.'" - Luke 9:23-26
I find it interesting that Christ had not yet been crucified when He said, "He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." How do we make sense of that? For a first century Jewish man living in a land occupied by Rome, it would not be unusual to see condemned men carrying their cross to their execution site. He used this image to explain the high expectations He had for His disciples' devotion. He told them what He is telling us now: If you're going to follow Me, you've got to be willing to die for me."
So I ask myself this question, "Bryant, am I willing?" When Jesus gives this challenge, I think about how weak I am. I think about how cowardly, selfish, and sinful I am. And I think about Christian martyrs today, knowing that there is more persecution of Christians going on right now than there has been in all of history. I think about people living in that situation and I wonder, would I be willing to go through torture for Christ? Would I be willing to give my life for Christ? I surely hope so.
If you call yourself a Christian, what about you?
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4 Comments
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Yes, report it NevermindI absolutely love your devotions!
I like how relatable they are to everyday life.
I would suggest reordering your delivery, not changing, but putting the scripture at the end. In this lost me-centered society, people would get your insight and then have it backed up by God.
Personally, I know it would be easier to forward on to people.
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Yes, report it NevermindThe Romans crucified 10's, perhaps 100's, of thousands of men. To them, the crucifiction of Jesus of Nazareth was just one rather minor one in the scheme of things. How wrong they were. How unimaginably wrong! Praise God.
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Yes, report it NevermindIf we were faced with persecution to the point of dying for our belief in Jesus, I believe the Lord will give us the strength to endure the torture to the point of death and not forsake us.... "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, thou are with me ... We need to pray for our missionaries who are in hostile territory, that they have a strength and peace to endure their daily struggles.
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Yes, report it NevermindYou are so right, Kathy, thanks for making your comment.