Joni And Friends Daily Devotional Message
Joni and Friends Daily Devotional 10th August 2023 Thursday Message. As you study today’s devotional, remember this; “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)
TOPIC: Take Up Your Cross
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” – Philippians 3:7-11
The Bible calls us to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus (Mark 8:34). But what does that really mean? How do we do that? Does it mean caring for a chronically ill family member, or maybe putting up with a melancholy spouse who doesn’t communicate, or living paycheck to paycheck. It may mean some of those things, but it’s also something more. Since Jesus died for our sins on the cross, then taking up our cross means dying to those same sins. Giving them up. Casting them aside.
That’s what it means when Paul in today’s Scripture reading tells us to become like Jesus in his death. A cross is an instrument of death, and when we take it up daily, we learn how to die to ourselves, to our selfish wants and wishes. But take heart! The cross also means life. Not just life eternal, but joy and peace and power in the very midst of today’s hardships and worries.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I’m so glad you spoke about taking up my cross daily. Each new day gives me a fresh opportunity to do that. Maybe I didn’t pick it up yesterday or the day before, but I can pick it up today. Today I will put you first. Today I will place your desires before mine.
Thank you for reading Joni and Friends Daily Devotional 10th August 2023 Thursday Message. Encourage someone today by sharing this great Gospel.
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