April 26
Luke 22:54-23:12
Jesus continually called his disciples to the difficult life of following him. Jesus called them to take up their cross, lose their life, be a servant, and live surrendered. How committed are you to obedience and devotion, even if it leads to suffering and difficulty? Luke 22-23 gives us both a negative and positive example of what this looks like. In Peter, we see what it looks like to pursue self-preservation rather than identification with Christ. Peter denies having been with Jesus or even knowing him, and not just once, but three times. After all that Jesus has done for Peter, he is willing to throw Jesus aside in an instant. He was willing to do and say anything to avoid arrest and possible death. When it came down to it, he was completely unwilling to take up a cross.
In contrast, we have Jesus who resolutely headed to the cross knowing he would die. He stood for truth, embraced silence and humility, and confessed his identity as the Son of God; despite this being the grounds for his death. Jesus resolutely lived as the humble sacrificial servant in whose footsteps we are to walk. We may be tempted to fit in, swim with the current of our culture, or even deny our Savior─God calls us to embrace Christ as the center of our lives and make his glory what we live for.
Father God, help me not be a timid follower of you, but boldly make you known. May I identify with you, no matter where that leads, and have opportunities to publicly acknowledge Christ as my Lord and Savior. Amen.
Where are you tempted to shrink back as a follower of Jesus rather than publicly acknowledge him?
Jesus continually called his disciples to the difficult life of following him. Jesus called them to take up their cross, lose their life, be a servant, and live surrendered. How committed are you to obedience and devotion, even if it leads to suffering and difficulty? Luke 22-23 gives us both a negative and positive example of what this looks like. In Peter, we see what it looks like to pursue self-preservation rather than identification with Christ. Peter denies having been with Jesus or even knowing him, and not just once, but three times. After all that Jesus has done for Peter, he is willing to throw Jesus aside in an instant. He was willing to do and say anything to avoid arrest and possible death. When it came down to it, he was completely unwilling to take up a cross.
In contrast, we have Jesus who resolutely headed to the cross knowing he would die. He stood for truth, embraced silence and humility, and confessed his identity as the Son of God; despite this being the grounds for his death. Jesus resolutely lived as the humble sacrificial servant in whose footsteps we are to walk. We may be tempted to fit in, swim with the current of our culture, or even deny our Savior─God calls us to embrace Christ as the center of our lives and make his glory what we live for.
Father God, help me not be a timid follower of you, but boldly make you known. May I identify with you, no matter where that leads, and have opportunities to publicly acknowledge Christ as my Lord and Savior. Amen.
Where are you tempted to shrink back as a follower of Jesus rather than publicly acknowledge him?
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