Tuesday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Luke 9
23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?
23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
9:23 Come after me means to become a disciple (cf. 14:27) and requires that a disciple: (1) deny himself (not simply denying certain things but denying personal control of one’s life); (2) take up his cross (cf. 14:27; make a commitment that will lead to rejection and possibly even death); and (3) follow me (following the example and teachings of Jesus). In Jesus’ day, “follow me” also meant joining the company of his disciples who traveled in ministry with Jesus around Palestine.
9:24 save his life … lose it. Jesus’ paradoxical statement demands two different senses of the word “life”: whoever lives a self-centered life focused on this present world (i.e., would save his life) will not find eternal life with God (will lose it); whoever gives up his self-centered life of rebellion against God (loses his life) for the sake of Christ and the gospel will find everlasting communion with God (will save it; see v. 38).
9:25 Gaining even the whole world is infinitely less valuable than one’s eternal destiny in relation to God.
9:24 save his life … lose it. Jesus’ paradoxical statement demands two different senses of the word “life”: whoever lives a self-centered life focused on this present world (i.e., would save his life) will not find eternal life with God (will lose it); whoever gives up his self-centered life of rebellion against God (loses his life) for the sake of Christ and the gospel will find everlasting communion with God (will save it; see v. 38).
9:25 Gaining even the whole world is infinitely less valuable than one’s eternal destiny in relation to God.
Study Questions:
- Jesus then paints a picture of what being a true follower looks like. He is, once again, drawing a distinction between being a follower and being a part of the crowd. The crowds were there to consume and receive. While there's nothing wrong with that in the beginning, Jesus is always going to call the crowd to more. Think of a time when you were a believer, but still just part of the crowd. What was it that caused you to want to step towards Jesus and become a follower? Or, could it be you are still part of the crowd? Is he calling you to more?
- Jesus-following takes giving up, sacrificing and commitment. It means denying yourself. He mentions nothing of finding yourself, or celebrating yourself, or learning to be yourself, or embracing yourself. How does this run counter to our current culture? In what ways have you fallen into the trap of this self-centered way of thinking? Could this "deny yourself" way of living be an area in which you need to grow? Are you fitting in more and more with those the world is rejecting (as Jesus was) or with those the world is accepting?
Pray:
- That you would move from the crowd to being a true follower.
- That you would learn what it means to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
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