Monday, January 13 – “And he said, ‘The Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.’” (Luke 9:22) If Jesus had performed every miracle and taught every lesson in his life, but died of a heart attack, he would’ve been a great guy. If Jesus hadn’t performed any miracles or taught any lessons in his life, but died on the cross and on the third day rose again from the dead, he would be our Lord and Savior. Jesus’ purpose was the cross. The cross was his cross.
Tuesday, January 14 – “But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” (Matthew 26:54) The cross was Jesus’ purpose. He came to die, to pay the price for our sins. Jesus died on the cross because that was why he was alive. The cross was his cross. Jesus was faithful to live out his purpose. Jesus literally picked up his cross and followed. How about you? Are you willing to pick up your cross, your purpose, and follow?
Wednesday, January 15 – “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37) There’s a catch (there’s always a catch) to picking up your cross and following Jesus: Your cross, your purpose, isn’t always what the crowd desires. Your cross, your purpose, might not even be what you desire. Jesus desired to save Jerusalem, but they weren’t interested. Jesus picked up his cross and followed his purpose anyway.
Thursday, January 16 – “He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!’” (Luke 24:25) There were two men, followers of Jesus, who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, post-resurrection. Yet, they didn’t recognize him. Because his presence didn’t fit their understanding of reality. As you decide to follow Jesus, don’t base your life on your own understanding of reality. As you decide to follow Jesus, stand under, base your life on Jesus’ perspective of reality.
Friday, January 17 – “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38) “Worthy of me” means something is good enough or valuable enough for you and implies a high standard or expectation. In the case of Jesus, we know what the “high standard and expectation” happens to be. It’s for you to be who you’ve been created and gifted to be. For you to live into and through your God-given design. You have a cross to bear, a purpose for your life. To be worthy of Jesus simply means that you’ve taken up your cross.
Saturday, January 18 – “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” (Matthew 16:16) This is the confession of faith. Not only for Simon Peter, but for every person who will ever live. Yet, being a follower of Jesus means so much more than simply acknowledging that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. That’s a great place to start. But don’t stop there. Because Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, pick up your cross and follow him. Discover your purpose, who you are, and be it.
Tuesday, January 14 – “But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” (Matthew 26:54) The cross was Jesus’ purpose. He came to die, to pay the price for our sins. Jesus died on the cross because that was why he was alive. The cross was his cross. Jesus was faithful to live out his purpose. Jesus literally picked up his cross and followed. How about you? Are you willing to pick up your cross, your purpose, and follow?
Wednesday, January 15 – “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37) There’s a catch (there’s always a catch) to picking up your cross and following Jesus: Your cross, your purpose, isn’t always what the crowd desires. Your cross, your purpose, might not even be what you desire. Jesus desired to save Jerusalem, but they weren’t interested. Jesus picked up his cross and followed his purpose anyway.
Thursday, January 16 – “He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!’” (Luke 24:25) There were two men, followers of Jesus, who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, post-resurrection. Yet, they didn’t recognize him. Because his presence didn’t fit their understanding of reality. As you decide to follow Jesus, don’t base your life on your own understanding of reality. As you decide to follow Jesus, stand under, base your life on Jesus’ perspective of reality.
Friday, January 17 – “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38) “Worthy of me” means something is good enough or valuable enough for you and implies a high standard or expectation. In the case of Jesus, we know what the “high standard and expectation” happens to be. It’s for you to be who you’ve been created and gifted to be. For you to live into and through your God-given design. You have a cross to bear, a purpose for your life. To be worthy of Jesus simply means that you’ve taken up your cross.
Saturday, January 18 – “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” (Matthew 16:16) This is the confession of faith. Not only for Simon Peter, but for every person who will ever live. Yet, being a follower of Jesus means so much more than simply acknowledging that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. That’s a great place to start. But don’t stop there. Because Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, pick up your cross and follow him. Discover your purpose, who you are, and be it.
You try to eat right. You drink plenty of water. you exercise. don't forget your spirit - feed it!
daily devotions
