Thursday 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? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. 27 I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”
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? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. 27 I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”
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) 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 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.
9:26 Being ashamed of Jesus means to deny any link with him (cf. 22:54–61) and is the opposite of acknowledging him as one’s Lord and teacher (12:8–9). The person and message of Jesus (me and my words) are indivisible. When he comes in his glory refers to the second coming. Luke emphasizes the glory of Jesus (cf. Luke 21:27; 24:26).
9:27 Some standing here refers to Peter, John, and James, who will witness the transfiguration.
9:24 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.
9:26 Being ashamed of Jesus means to deny any link with him (cf. 22:54–61) and is the opposite of acknowledging him as one’s Lord and teacher (12:8–9). The person and message of Jesus (me and my words) are indivisible. When he comes in his glory refers to the second coming. Luke emphasizes the glory of Jesus (cf. Luke 21:27; 24:26).
9:27 Some standing here refers to Peter, John, and James, who will witness the transfiguration.
Study Questions:
- The first takeaway from Sunday was, "Jesus wasn't in it to win it." Jesus didn't come to rule and overthrow the Roman government, which is what most people expected. He came to give up his life... to die. He didn't come to rule, he came to suffer and serve and die. The reality is, we are here for the same purpose...to suffer for Jesus, serve God and people, and die. This is contrasted by today's rampant prosperity gospel that promises a "blessed life". What do you think it is about our culture in America that makes us think we are more "favored" than Christians in other parts of the world? Why do we think God wants us to be comfortable and blessed? How does this align with the reality of the first-century church and the warnings of Jesus about the suffering we would face for following him? In what ways have you bought into the prosperity gospel?
- Jesus' teaching here is also contrasted by the power dynamics of American Christianity. Politics and religion have gotten so entangled in recent years. People on BOTH sides of the isle are convinced that Jesus is on their side of any given issue. Anytime in history that the Church rose to political power, it did not go well. If we are going to follow Jesus, our weapons cannot be politics, position or power. Our weapons, instead, are praying, preaching and praise. How does this contrast what you see from most Christians on social media? How can we keep ourselves in check? In what ways have you bought into Christian nationalism?
Pray:
- That you would be ready and willing to suffer for Jesus, even in America.
- That you would remember that we fight on our knees.
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)
No Comments