Upper Room | Devotional

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Who Will Be Sovereign?
Read Matthew 16:21-26
[Jesus] said to [his disciples], "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

-Luke 9:23 (NRSV)
THE doctor directed me to fast before my medical examination. When I went in for the exam, they said that I needed to give up a few things and take up exercise. This reminds me of what we do during Easter and Lent. We give up something for six weeks and perhaps take up special spiritual exercises for our spiritual health.
Jesus' charge -- "let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" -- shows that one step leads to the other. If we can't deny ourselves, we also cannot take up the cross. If we are not willing to accept a cross, we cannot follow Christ. Self-denial is denying myself the right to do what I want and surrendering that right to Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
When Jesus asked his disciples to deny themselves, it wasn't just for a season. It was to be a daily practice that lasted a lifetime. And such a commitment is not something we struggle with once and then effortlessly keep for the rest of our life. Each day we face choices to do what we want or what God wills. (See Luke 22:42.) Lent is a time for allowing the Holy Spirit to examine us and help us determine what we need to stop and what we need to start in order to follow Christ more faithfully.
Ray Hawkins (Tasmania, Australia)

O God, help us to see where you are calling us to take up our cross, and give us power to obey. Amen.

What am I doing to improve my spiritual health?

Those beginning a discipine during Lent

| March 10, 2010 | March 11, 2010 |

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