1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:06,730 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,790 --> 00:00:13,490 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening 3 00:00:13,540 --> 00:00:18,540 Speaker 1: to Daily Devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stonge, and 4 00:00:18,579 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 1: today's devotion is inspired by Luke chapter 9, verse 23, 5 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:27,260 Speaker 1: which says, And he said to all, If anyone would 6 00:00:27,300 --> 00:00:30,639 Speaker 1: come after me, let him deny himself and take up 7 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:36,860 Speaker 1: his cross daily and Many of the people who showed 8 00:00:36,979 --> 00:00:40,380 Speaker 1: interest in Jesus during his earthly ministry were looking at 9 00:00:40,420 --> 00:00:44,620 Speaker 1: him primarily through a political lens. Some wanted to follow 10 00:00:44,659 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: him because they were certain he was going to raise 11 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: the nation of Israel to a place of prominence like 12 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:55,060 Speaker 1: it enjoyed under King David. But Jesus wasn't speaking of 13 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: following him in those kinds of terms in these verses. 14 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,310 Speaker 1: He tells those within his hearing that If anyone would 15 00:01:02,390 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: come after me, let him deny himself and take up 16 00:01:06,100 --> 00:01:11,140 Speaker 1: his cross daily and follow me. That's the reality of 17 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:17,890 Speaker 1: following Christ. Jesus teaches us to deny ourselves. This doesn't 18 00:01:17,930 --> 00:01:22,130 Speaker 1: mean to punish, starve, or demean ourselves, but it does 19 00:01:22,190 --> 00:01:25,169 Speaker 1: mean that we should let go of our selfish desires 20 00:01:25,510 --> 00:01:29,209 Speaker 1: and the constant search for earthly security that competes with 21 00:01:29,310 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: Christ's invitation to walk by faith in Him. Jesus teaches 22 00:01:34,170 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: us to take up our cross. In saying this, He's 23 00:01:37,660 --> 00:01:40,940 Speaker 1: inviting us to assess the depth of our commitment to Him. 24 00:01:41,780 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: Would we be willing to suffer persecution for His name? 25 00:01:45,580 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: Would we follow Jesus even to the point of death? 26 00:01:50,060 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: Jesus is telling us that there's no turning back when 27 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:58,610 Speaker 1: we become His disciples. Jesus teaches us to follow him. 28 00:01:59,490 --> 00:02:03,950 Speaker 1: Belief in Christ is where discipleship starts, but it continues 29 00:02:04,270 --> 00:02:08,889 Speaker 1: and grows deeper as we follow Christ daily. Our life 30 00:02:08,970 --> 00:02:11,590 Speaker 1: needs to be going in the same direction as his. 31 00:02:12,510 --> 00:02:15,530 Speaker 1: He calls us to follow him and journey through life 32 00:02:15,850 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 1: confident of his presence, power, wisdom and encouragement. Let's pray. Lord, 33 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,139 Speaker 1: we thank you for your word, and we thank you 34 00:02:29,180 --> 00:02:30,660 Speaker 1: for the privilege that it is to be able to 35 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 1: read this portion of Scripture together today from the Gospel 36 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,900 Speaker 1: of Luke. And Lord, as we look at this portion 37 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: of your word, we see what it really means to 38 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:42,930 Speaker 1: be your disciple. You show us what it looks like 39 00:02:42,990 --> 00:02:45,130 Speaker 1: to follow you, and you tell us here that if 40 00:02:45,190 --> 00:02:48,730 Speaker 1: we would come after you, we need to deny ourself, 41 00:02:49,110 --> 00:02:51,470 Speaker 1: we need to take up our cross daily, and we 42 00:02:51,510 --> 00:02:55,790 Speaker 1: need to truly follow you without turning back. Lord, we 43 00:02:55,830 --> 00:02:58,350 Speaker 1: realize that there are many people in this world who 44 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: think of their relationship with you as an afterthought. But 45 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,100 Speaker 1: when we look at a portion of Scripture like this, 46 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: we realize that a true relationship with you is not 47 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,140 Speaker 1: an afterthought. It's something that's always on our mind. It's 48 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:14,269 Speaker 1: something that defines our life. And if we truly know 49 00:03:14,310 --> 00:03:17,769 Speaker 1: you and we truly love you, it will be our 50 00:03:17,889 --> 00:03:21,310 Speaker 1: delight to put you first in all circumstances of life, 51 00:03:21,870 --> 00:03:24,700 Speaker 1: even in the midst of persecutions. and even in the 52 00:03:24,740 --> 00:03:28,980 Speaker 1: midst of seasons of trial or uncertainty. So Lord, we're 53 00:03:29,020 --> 00:03:32,020 Speaker 1: grateful for this challenge that you've given to us from 54 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: your word, as you teach us what it truly means 55 00:03:35,190 --> 00:03:38,210 Speaker 1: to live as your disciple. And we ask you for 56 00:03:38,250 --> 00:03:40,970 Speaker 1: the strength and the power that only you can supply 57 00:03:41,650 --> 00:03:44,810 Speaker 1: to help us live this out in the most sincere 58 00:03:44,890 --> 00:03:48,500 Speaker 1: way possible. We thank you for all of these things, 59 00:03:49,020 --> 00:03:52,540 Speaker 1: and we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.