Today's Passage - Matthew 16:24-28

Matthew 16:24-28   Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."     In this passage, Jesus did not say: 'Come, all the pastors.' We often believe that carrying cross, as well as suffering, is the duty of pastors. But what about us? It's good enough to just be an ordinary believer. But the words of Jesus were spoken to you as well.   Do you want to follow the Lord? Do you want to receive an abundant life from the Lord? Do you want to receive peace and joy from the Lord? The path that the Lord went is a path of the cross. Everyone who follows the Lord must walk on the path of the cross. The path of the cross is not necessarily the path of suffering, but it is a path of obedience and sacrifice. In other words, we are willingly to live for the Lord not ourselves. We want the joy of the Lord not ours. Not to follow our ways, but the Lord's way. Not to highly regard us, but to love the Lord more.   After Jesus' resurrection, Peter and other apostles went back to their job as fishmen. When Jesus showed Himself to them, Peter recognized the Lord. He immediately jumped into the water out of shame. After their breakfast, Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me more than these?" What are the "these" Jesus mentioned? Was it a net? Was the failure of Peter's three times denial of the Lord? Or was it Peter's life? Because Jesus had clearly told him how Peter would sacrifice himself for the Lord, not matter what, the Lord reminded him again that the path he was traveling is the path of the cross. Do not live for our own desire, but for the Lord.   The Lord will ask you the same question, "Do you love me more than these?" What are "these" for you? Your dream, career, family, money, estate? Or your past emotional wounds? Are you willing to give up your rights of feeling sorrow for yourself? Give up your rights to control your own life? Or give up your rights to be rich? Are you willing to give yourself up for the Lord, running for the Lord? Brothers and sisters, never be afraid of walking down the path of the cross. This path starts narrow, but it can really lead us to the road of peace and life. May God give us more strength!      Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we thank you because you walked the path of the cross for us first. May your spirit raise us again to walk down your path everyday so that your will for our lives can be fulfilled. Prayer and thanks in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!            Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!