Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 9:23-27   "Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.'"   The Lord has clearly said that if anyone wants to follow Him, "he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."  The Lord never asked all the "pastors" to follow, but we often think that it's the pastor's job to carry the cross and to suffer, and the rest of us should only be "ordinary" believers.  In this passage, however, the Lord was talking to "them all," asking "them all" to "deny himself..."  Would you like to follow the Lord?  Do you want to have an abundant life from the Lord?  Do you want to have peace and joy from the Lord?  Lord said that you must deny yourself and take up your cross to follow Him.  The Lord's way is the way of the cross, and those who follow the Lord must get on the same way, willing to live for the Lord; not to seek to please ourselves, but to please the Lord; not to follow our own ways, but follow the ways of the Lord; not to seek self-respect, but to love the Lord more.   After the Lord resurrected from death, Peter and other disciples have already gone back to their fishing work.  When Jesus revealed Himself to them, Peter recognized Him and jumped into the water in shame.  Later, Jesus asked Peter: "Do you love me more than these?"  What was the word "these" referring to?  Was it the net full of fish, or the job of fisherman?  Was it how Peter denied the Lord for three times, or was it the life of Peter?  Jesus told Peter that he would martyr for the Lord, and the Lord once again reminded him that he was on the way of the cross, so he should no longer live for his own desires, but to solely live for the Lord.   Today, the Lord is asking you the same question - Do you love me more than these?  What is the "these" for you?  Aspirations, career, family, money, property?  The wounds in your heart from the past?  Are you willing to lay down your right to grieve for yourself for the Lord?  Are you willing to lay down your right to manage your own life for the Lord?  How about laying down your right to possess wealth for the Lord?  The way of the cross looks narrow, but it will ultimately bring true peace and joy in our life.  The way of the world looks wide, but it will lead to perish.  May the Lord help us to choose the way of the Lord everyday, so that we may experience the amazing grace in the Lord everyday!     Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because you first loved us.  May your love attract me from inside, let me willingly walk on the way of the cross.  Lord, I am willing to lay do0wn my right to manage my own life, or even to grieve for myself.  Help me to live for you alone.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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