Matthew 16:24-27 – “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.  25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”  NASU

I have heard many sermons on ‘Cross Bearing’ and even preached a few and often wonder where we get some of our ideas of cross bearing.  Many biblical commentators will tell us that taking up the cross is a reference to ‘denying self.’  Jesus had been speaking about His cross and was teaching His followers the costliness of discipleship, which is an almost lost concept in today’s Christian world.  Notice what Jesus says:  “If anyone wishes to come after Me…”  So, if I want to follow Jesus and live the Christian life there is something I am going to be required to do.  Those things will not ‘earn’ me salvation but will be an ‘evidence’ of my salvation for it is ‘by grace’ that we are saved ‘not works.’

He mentions three things in this sentence:  Denial of Self, Taking up Our Cross and Following Him.  I do not want to split hairs and make this more complicated that is needed but what if those are three distinct items?  If they are then denial of self and cross bearing is not one in the same. However if they are extensions of each other, denial of self would result in cross bearing and following Jesus.

Jesus was going to die on His Cross for the sin of mankind.  He committed Himself to fulfilling the purposes and plans of the Father for man’s redemption and that would require His suffering and physical death on the cross.  If we are to follow Him then we must become willing to ‘die to self’ and ‘live to Him.’  We must come to the place in our commitment that even if everyone turns on us we will follow Him and that would truly be a very heavy cross to bear.  Sadly, some create their crosses and alienate others by being obnoxious in the presentation of their beliefs.  I would never ask anyone compromise their convictions but sometimes our opinions are presented as biblical mandates with no conviction of the Holy Spirit in another’s heart.

I remember hearing an elderly preacher say once, “Men will die for their convictions not their opinions.”  That has stuck with me through the years and I have struggled, at times, to distinguish between my opinions and genuine convictions.  If what I believe to be a Bible truth is just an opinion it must always be pliable and flexible open to modification.  If it is a God-given conviction then I must not move from it.  There are some things God has ‘convicted’ me of both to do and not do but in many of those cases the Holy Spirit has tugged at my heart that those things are for me not something I am to attempt to press upon others.  I am free to present them, explain them, and encourage them but not to make them Law and Gospel for everyone.  That in itself has, at times, been a Cross to bear.

In the statement of verses 25-26 I believe we see the Cross Jesus is speaking of as focusing on TOTAL SURRENDER.  Possibly one of the greatest and most difficult crosses we will carry is ‘giving up control’ of our lives.  Nothing in the world is worth our soul and nothing in the world can purchase our soul.  Therefore, if you want to ‘follow’ Jesus dethrone self, accept that cross and begin the journey.  He will never leave or forsake you.

            God bless you as you enjoy and experience this wonderful day!

Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.“  NKJV

I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has said to me, “If only I could serve the Lord full time” I’d be a very rich man.  However that is not the focus of what I want to convey in this devotional.  I have always had a question for people who said that to me, “When are you not serving the Lord full time?”  Most of the time I would get the look of a calf walking up to a new gate or a deer in the headlights look acting as if I had somehow fallen out of a well.  What?  That’s what I asked, “When are you not serving the Lord full time?”

The usual response is, “Well you know what I mean full time Christian service.”  I usually respond, “When are you not in full time Christian service?”  I was not and am not trying to be contentious and frustrate but if I understand the teachings of Scripture correctly we are to do ALL WE DO unto the Lord so if we are Christians we are Christians ALL THE TIME.  That means whether I am a pastor, evangelist or some other labor that is deemed Christian ministry or am a businessman, janitor, factory worker, fisherman, etc.  I am still a Christian ALL THE TIME, right?  If that is the case then whatever I do I am doing ‘as unto the Lord’ and doing it to bring honor to Him.  Therefore, I and you are in FULL TIME Christian service we just may not all serve as preachers yet we all preach through our lives and labors.

Rather than compartmentalizing your life let your life be your life and realize that whether at work or play, in the secular world or in a church function you are in FULL TIME Christian service.  You are both a representation and manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ to this world.  I suggest that if you do not consider what you do for a living a ‘service unto the Lord’ you might want to consider changing vocations.  If we, as believers, would strive to be the very best we can be as laborers and examples of godliness we will find that either our employers will find us too valuable to let go or launch a campaign against us because of the Christ in us and either way God will come to our rescue.  It may be His way of opening a new door for us and it may be His way of touching the hard hearts of those around us.

I know what it is like to have an employer or boss launch a campaign against me simply because the spirit in him and the spirit in me collided without a word being said.  The day he walked onto the job I knew he would seek to get rid of me.  He could not, for my performance endeared me to the owner and this man’s superiors but that did not prevent him from trying.  I sought to be an example of godliness in all that I said and did and one of his reasons for attacking me is I would not lie to customers although he demanded that I do so.

Do I fail?  Of course I am a flawed vessel but that is not a justification for failing and does not make me a failure it only serves to make me more aware of my need for the Spirit of God in my life.  I pray the prayer of David continuously:  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  11 Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.” (Psalms 51:10-13)

            May God be with you as you go through your day!

Hebrews 4:14-16 – “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  NKJV

The Phillips translation renders it, “Seeing that we have a great High Priest who has entered the inmost Heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to our faith.  15 For we have no superhuman High Priest to whom our weaknesses are unintelligible—he himself has shared fully in all our experience of temptation, except that he never sinned. ¹⁶ Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with fullest confidence, that we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need.”

If that doesn’t cock your pistol the hammer is broken! Jesus, our high priest, went to the Cross, died for our sins, arose from the dead and has ascended into heaven making intercession for us before the Father.  Knowing this and knowing that He was tempted ‘in all points’ like our confidence should soar that He ‘feels our pain’ and truly understands what we are going through.  He knows the frailty of our humanity and the pull of temptation.  He is our advocate with the Father and has extended an invitation for us to come ‘boldly’ before the throne seeking grace.

How many times have you said or been told, “I know what you are going through.”  The truth is you do not!  You may have experienced virtually the identical situation but you do not know that person’s heart or grid from which they view and feel but HE DOES!  You only see the ‘exterior’ He sees the ‘interior’.  You can only relate from your experience which is limited but He from an experience that is unlimited.  You can only empathize and offer condolences but He can work the work needed for victory.  You can see that I’m in pain but you cannot feel my pain but He can!

We have His promise that He will NEVER leave us nor forsake us.  We have His promise that we can ASK what we will and it will be done.  We have His promise that He has given us the Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us, comfort us, and equip us for life here on planet earth.

Whatever you are now facing, He can!  Whatever you now need, He can!  He enables us to be more than conquerors and overcome all the power of the devil.  God bless you and guide your through your journey today!  Blessings!

Galatians 3:27-29 – “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”  NASU

I am often amazed at how people sometimes strain at gnats and swallow camels in trying to establish their theology and doctrinal explanations or exclusions.  Paul, a foremost authority on Covenant in the New Testament, begins his discussion with the Galatians speaking about covenant and reminded them that even covenants of men are established on principles and conditions.  He gives the seriousness and importance of promises or ‘our word.’  He explains to them that God gave a promise to Abraham and then 430 years later came the Law but the Law could not invalidate the promise.  He also explained that the Law did not bring the promise and that inheritance into the Family of God was not based on the Law but the Promise.  He explained that the Law came because of sin and it was a road map to faith and now that Christ has come and we have received Him we are not under the tutor or road map but had become sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

He instructs them that if they have been baptized into Christ clothed themselves with Christ then they (we) belonged to Christ and are therefore Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise!   That is powerful if you can receive it!  The Promise God made to Abraham in Covenant is something that every believer should study carefully and embrace fully.  It identifies the truth that we can never earn our salvation that it is fully by grace that we are saved through faith.  It is not based on works it is based on God’s mercy.  It is rooted in God’s Promise not how well we keep or do not keep a set of rules and regulations.

 Please understand I am not saying that discipline and self-control are not important.  I am not saying that we can do whatever we please and there are no rules we are to follow.  Certainly there are rules of moral conduct that must be observed and that means we must demonstrate self-control and live within certain guidelines of accepted behavior.  Yet, we are FREE in Christ and not constrained by the list of rules and regulations that any particular sect, denomination or religious order dictates.  We are constrained by the Spirit of God based on the Word of God. 

We know that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  Abraham, Hebrews 11 tells us, was one of the patriarchs of faith in our biblical history.  He obeyed when he could not see or understand all that God was directing him to.  He believed that God’s direction was right God was trustworthy and obeyed beyond what most of us would be capable.  He had a settle assurance that the things he hoped for were real even if he could not hold them, see them or currently experiencing them. HE BELIEVED!  That is the key element in our heirship.  Faith trumps sight or feelings for it is rooted in the confidence that God is who He declares Himself to be and His Promises are what He has declared them to be.

I encourage you to study the Promise God made Abraham and embrace it incorporating it into your life and labor.  Blessings as you go through this day!

John 3:27-31 – “John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”  NKJV

If I am completely honest, it feels good when someone sends accolades your direction but at the same time I am almost always troubled by them.  It is not with a sense of ‘false humility’ that I am troubled but a realization that I SHOULD NEVER be the focus, HE SHOULD!  When I receive earthly praise for anything, this verse comes to mind and while I never want to fail to acknowledge the expression and show genuine appreciation for the speaker or writer I do want to keep it all in perspective.

Any ability I have and any gift or talent is from Him.  I know that the very breath I breathe is at the choosing of God to allow me more time on planet earth. I know that although I may have studied, labored, honed and developed skills the source of those gifts, talents or abilities are HIM!  In Him I ‘live’, I ‘move’ and I ‘have my being’.  It is IN Him, THROUGH Him, and BY Him that anything good that I am comes to fruition.

I echo John’s words and heart saying, “I am not Him.  I am just a voice or a vessel.”  I have never wanted to be an echo but a voice but even in that I am just a voice not the voice for that title and distinction is His alone.  He deposits in my heart and I convey what has been deposited.  I did not originate it, He did.  All I am, have, will be or will have is directly connected to HIM.  Therefore, if you see something in me that even remotely seems to warrant praise it WAS, IS and WILL BE Him.  He is the deserving one I am not.

Again, some may consider my protest an exercise in ‘false humility’ but I do not mean it that way.  Rather I pray that everyone will understand that the deep cry of my heart is to LIFT HIM UP and when He is lifted up men are drawn to him.  If I am lifted up and anyone is drawn to me that would be a tragic mistake for I am human, with human frailties, kinks in my armor and will most likely disappoint in something at some time.  HE WILL NOT!

I have experienced the ‘puffing up’ of my ego too many times in life and experienced the pain of being brought back to reality, I do not need nor do I want that.  I want to simply be a vessel meet for the Master’s use that brings honor.  I like the characterization the Jewish leaders made of Peter and John in Acts 4:13.  They saw them as lacking the credentials of education, polish, and sophistication but noticed one distinct thing that separated them from others – – THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS!  That is the cry of my heart that people see Him in me not just me.  If I am successful in that endeavor then lives will be changed and the Kingdom of God advanced through the efforts assigned to me.

So as you go through this day beware of flattery and focus on Him.  May God bless you richly as you go through your day!

Luke 9:57-62 – “As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”  61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” NASU

Well NO but that is what I had a person tell me regarding this passage that Jesus was saying, “Let the walking dead bury the dead.”  Context is important when considering anything and especially scriptural truths as is the case here.

Remember the bold declaration in this account to Jesus, “I will follow you anywhere.”  Jesus responded with his unique way of challenging their commitment and exposing the lack thereof.  Another came to Him and said, “I will follow you but let me go home first to bury my father.”  That is when Jesus said, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead…”  The man’s father was not deceased but he was asking to be allowed time to go home assume his responsibilities and ultimately receive his inheritance first.  Jesus said, “NO!” 

But, the use of that phrase, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead,” is interesting for we know that the Hebrews used the word dead to express indifference toward something or identify that it has no influence or authority over them.  We are told in Romans 7:4 to be ‘dead to the law’ and in Romans 6:11 we understand that to mean that sin has no influence over us for we are ‘dead to sin.’  In a very real sense our Lord was identifying that which is most important – the proclaiming of the Gospel of the Kingdom.  In that sense He was advising those petitioning Him for a delay in commitment and service was a choice between life and death.  It was not a statement of our Lord of lack of empathy for the loss of a loved one.  Remember how he reacted at Lazarus’ tomb – HE WEPT! 

Further we know the Bible teaches that we are to ‘honor’ our parents Ephesians 6:2 and elsewhere so our Lord would never suggest disrespecting parents or divesting our responsibilities.  He was rather identifying that to which these were being called was far more important than earthly treasure.  The real question is not whether the Lord was being too harsh in His response but what was the man asking or seeking.  It would seem that he was looking for an excuse to delay his commitment while justifying himself saying, “Once this is done then I will….”   I have dealt with scores of people who use the same type of excuse for not serving God and the thread is always the same.  ‘Once this or that is done then I will….’  NO!  Today is the day of Salvation.  NOW is the accepted time.

Jesus said in Luke 9:23 – “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  The decision to accept the call of God to salvation should never be delayed for we know not what a day may bring forth and life is truly a vapor.  It is here one moment then gone.

            God bless you as you go forth in the Life of God!

Luke 6:27-31 – “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.  29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.  30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.  31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”  NKJV

Within most human hearts the concept of ‘loving our enemies’ is foreign to our nature.  Even after we become Christians this is a most difficult concept to fully implement even if we understand it, believe it to be right, and want to obey.  It is incredibly difficult to feel any charity toward someone who has hurt, is hurting, or will hurt you.  Someone so filled with hate for you they participate in attempts to do you injury makes it a very difficult to ‘do them good.’  Lord, don’t you know what they did?  For someone to openly curse you wishing your destruction to BLESS THEM is almost inconceivable and if they physically abuse you to ‘turn the other cheek’ is out of the question for many.  I have had some in church tell me, “I don’t get mad I get even” and did not feel the least bit contradictory in their testimony and actions.  If someone steals from you to give them additional stuff is not normal in the human family, at least not most of it.  Then the clincher is the last sentence brings it all home, “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”  WOW!

The last sentence brings home the principle of ‘sowing and reaping’ that we reap WHAT we sow, MORE than we sow and LATER than we sow but we REAP!  We reap in kind and if we sow to the wind we reap the whirlwind.  Believing this is truth is easy because it is in the Bible and comes from our Lord Himself but putting into practice in our lives is not so simple.  Most believers try but many fail miserably in the application of this truth.

Have you ever thought about the reality of conflict in the religious or church world and then placed that alongside this passage?  If we cannot accomplish this with those of like precious faith how in the world will we do it with those who are outside the faith?  Someone challenged that with me and said, “Well being hurt by someone who is supposed to know better and be better is more difficult than someone who lives in darkness.”  Maybe that is true for I know that being wounded by a friend or fellow believer has left a more painful sting than when an unbeliever hurls their barbs.  Regardless the directive is that we are to love, serve, bless, mediate peace, exhibit charity and consider others regardless.

Understand I am not saying anyone should remain joined to someone who abuses them nor am I saying one is prohibited from self-defense.  What I am saying is that if we seek to manifest Jesus in all things and at all times we will be hurt and will suffer loss but if we understand God’s principles we will find that ULTIMATELY we will reap great reward.

In the next portion of that scripture Jesus clearly identifies that if we love those who love us back, which is normal, we have not done anything spectacular. If we reciprocate in good deed for good deed we have really not done anything worthy of note.  On the other hand if we truly exhibit love for those that hate us and help those that can never repay that is a horse of quite another color and something that God does not overlook.  The idea is not doing things trying to earn God’s favor but to be reflective of His character.  The motive is always important in the action.

            May God be with you as you go through this day!  Blessings!

Matthew 1:18-25 – “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”  22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”  24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.”  NKJV

I have thought many times about what Joseph must have felt when he found that his virgin bride to be was with child.  He could have no concept of the miraculous supernatural event that had transpired to bring about her pregnancy and would have concluded that she had been wanton.  His love for her and his character is demonstrated in the statement that he wanted to ‘dismiss her in private’ not wanting to further embarrass her and maybe it was to hide his shame as well.  He had to be deeply troubled and perplexed as he became aware that the woman he was to marry was pregnant with a child not his.

Imagine the angel of the Lord coming to him in a dream and informing him of what had transpired and how even then most would have been troubled wondering if this was truly a revelation of God or just something fictional.  Even if it was from God how would people react to the news that Mary was pregnant and connect the dots that the child had not been sired by Joseph.  The fact that he honored the dream and kept himself from her until the birth of Jesus speaks of his faith and obedience and that should be recognized.  Little is said or even known about Joseph in the Bible record but I consider him a man of great integrity and faith and while Mary is greatly honored should Joseph not be given credit for his role in this?  Men, sometimes it is not what we do that is noted and praised by others that speaks of our faith but what we do when the full revelation is hidden from other’s eyes.

There is no indication in scripture that he was less than loving and nurturing as a human father to this child and that speaks volumes of his love toward God, Mary and the child.  His faith enabled him to do that which God desired and required and I can only imagine how difficult it must have been initially if not long term.  Thank you Joseph for loving God enough to be obedient, caring for and protecting Mary and the Christ Child.  Thank you (believers) who are faithful even when the tongues wag trying to bring you shame.  Thank you Father for loving us so much!

            God bless you as you go through this day!