Scripture

“Whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

Observation

Jesus demands a dedication stronger than love for our parents or children. We must take up a cross and follow Him. To find your life is to lose it, and to lose your life in him is to find it.

To welcome a disciple is to welcome Jesus. Even a cup of water to His disciples brings a reward.

Application

When our relationships get in the way of eternal life with Christ, we have to be prepared to let them go for His sake. Love for Jesus must be even greater than our love for family.

We even have to give up our life for Christ. To take up a cross is to walk towards certain death.

Everything- my possessions, my dreams, my family, my life- has to come under the lordship of Christ. He, and He alone, must determine all that I do. Anything that gets in the way of my total surrender to Christ must go.

Does that mean I stop loving my family? Of course not! It does mean that there is a higher love, a higher calling, that must take precedence.

Prayer

Lord your love for me means everything. Help me to put you first today. Amen.

Scripture

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.”

Observation

The eleven disciples go to Galilee to the place Jesus had directed them. He appears, and they worship, though some doubt.

Jesus tells them He has been given all authority and therefore they must go and make disciples of all nations. They are to baptise them and teach them to obey everything He has commanded.

Application

Of the eleven apostles, the ones closest to Jesus, some initially doubted the resurrection. It was too big for hem to get their heads around.

Jesus ignores their doubt and tells them to get on with the job- making disciples of all nations.

All of us doubt at times. The critical thing is to move onwards, to keep following even in periods when it doesn’t make sense.. The fog will lift and we will see Christ again.

The awesome task of making disciples will not end until the end of the age. Wherever the Lord plants us, we are to look for opportunities to preach the gospel and train up those who seek to follow Jesus.

Prayer

Help me Lord to invest my life in disciple making. Show me who to share with and how to do this. Amen.

 

 

 

Scripture

The crowd replied, “It is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

 

Observation

Jesus and His disciples come to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sends two of his disciples into the village to collect a donkey and its colt.

The disciples bring the donkey and colt to Jesus who then proceeds to Jerusalem riding on the colt.

A crowd gathers, spreading their garments and palm branches on the road ahead of Jesus. They start shouting praises to Jesus, and the whole city is in uproar.

 

Application

Jesus made a political and prophetic statement here. The prophetic statement is that He is the long-awaited Messiah. The political statement is that there is a new King and a new Kingdom in the land.

Both statements scared the ruling powers- both human and spiritual.

 As a follower of Jesus, constantly pointing others to Him and standing up for righteousness and mercy, I should also scare the ruling powers.

When christians get active, lives and communities are changed. Satan doesn’t like that. The human purveyors of sin and addiction don’t like that.

How will I scare the powers today?

 

Prayer

To truly follow you Lord means to confront the powers of darkness. Please help me to do that in your way today. Amen.

 

 

Scripture

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him.”

Observation

Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain. While they are there, Jesus is transfigured, his face shining brightly and his clothes dazzling.

Suddenly Moses and Elijah appear and talk to Jesus. Peter offers to build three shelters for them.

A cloud comes over and a voice speaks to them announcing that Jesus is God’s beloved Son.

The disciples fall to the ground in fear. When they look up Jesus is alone.

Application

What we see with our physical eyes and interpret with our brains is only a faint shadow of reality. Often we need that blinding revelation to see things as they really are.

Christians find it easy to fit into a comfortable groove. We operate with a devotional routine, say the easy prayers and fail to see what is really happening around us.

We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, learning to listen to Him and depend on His wisdom.

We need to learn to see the Lord as He really is, not the safe image we prefer to worship.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, reveal yourself to me again. May I see your glory, the reality of who you are. Amen

Scripture

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Observation

In the past, people decided that “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” was an acceptable level of revenge, but amongst people of the Kingdom forgiveness and non-retaliation are the rules. Go further than you have to in order to bless even those who are against you.

We must love our enemies and pray for our persecutors in order to be true sons and daughters to our Father. If we love only those who love us there is no virtue- anyone can do that. No, we are to be perfect like our Father.

Application

The desire for revenge runs deep in the human soul. The law of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” was meant to out a cap on revenge by stating that we can go so far and no farther.

Jesus tears all of this up by commanding us to love our enemy and extend grace to those who hurt us.

This is a radical extension of the idea that God will judge all people and so we do not have to. We offer no retaliation, just blessing.

Prayer

Lord, this is a hard command to put into practice. Grant me grace to bless those who cause me pain. Amen.

Scripture

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.:

Observation

Following from the Beatitudes, Jesus goes on to tell His followers that they are salts and light for the world. Salt must retain its saltiness and the light must be allowed to shine forth. We must let people see our good works so that they may give glory to our Father in heaven.

Jesus came to fulfil the Law not to abolish it. The Law will not pass away until all is accomplished. Our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees if we are to enter heaven.

Application

As followers of Jesus, we must make a difference in the world. We are the light of the world and salt for the earth. The love and righteousness of God should be shining out in our lives bringing people to a place where they glorify God because they recognise that we are empowered and motivated by God, not by our own nature.

We must not blend into the background, living lives that are outwardly the same as everyone else. Neither must we withdraw into a christian “ghetto” where we are completely cut off from the rest of the world.

The kingdom of heaven grows as we live our lives out in public and demonstrating a radically different life to the general population. The only way to do this is to pursue an ever deeper walk with Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to live for you in all things. May I truly be light and salt in the world today. Amen.