TAKE UP THE CROSS - DAILY DEVOTION

·         WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014 - 47 DAYS TO RESURRECTION SUNDAY, APRIL 20

·         Scripture Reading: Luke 9:18-25

·         18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? 19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. 20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. 21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; 22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. 23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

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·         REFLECTION: Too many professing Christians imagine they can be identified with Christ without being crucified with Christ.

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·         Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."

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·         Christ's disciples deny the pleasures of sin, pride, and the "self-centered life. They willfully (choose without compulsion) and willingly (choose without reservations) take up the cross daily--dying to the world and the flesh. Without a death there can be no resurrection. Only when we die to our self-centered and selfish agenda can we rise to walk in newness of life. Fanny Crosby expressed the same idea in her hymn "Blessed Assurance," "Perfect submission, all is at rest."

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·         PRAYER: Our Father, Thank you for sending your only begotten Son to die on the cross for my sins. Search my heart and reveal to me any area of my life that is self-centered, or selfish, or in any way disobedient to your will.(Pause here and wait for a moment to listen for God's voice). Forgive me Lord. Purify my heart. I surrender my entire life to you. Put to death any rebellious and self-centered attitudes in my heart. Fill me with your great love. In Jesus' name, Amen.