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Luke 9:23 - MORE OF JESUS.Luke 9:23 (NLT) Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.INTRODUCTION Following Jesus requires a total commitment to turn from selfish ways. Taking up one's cross is a metaphor for giving up one's life to follow Jesus even to death... It requires entrusting one's life entirely to Jesus. [One Year NLT SB] COMMENTARY PEARL I put the directions into my maps app on my phone and started driving to meet some friends at a restaurant about an hour away. I love Google Maps because it's a calm voice telling what direction to go, when to turn, and my estimated arrival time. But sometimes I still think I know best. On my recent trip to meet my friends, I decided to ignore the voice coming through my car stereo telling me to take a specific exit. I thought if I went a little farther down the highway, there would be a better route. Of course, I was wrong. The next exit was 3 miles down the road. The voice directed me to "return to the route." Eventually, I did and made it to my destination late. How often do I think I know better in my journey of following Jesus? He simply says, "Follow Me." I haven't heard an audible voice with specific directions telling me what path to take when making decisions, but I have God's Word that is pretty specific with directions for life. I also have Jesus's example in Scripture on how to live. And I have the Holy Spirit, who lives in me guiding me into all truth (John 16:13). When I think I know better and take a wrong turn, I feel an uneasiness in my spirit and a nudge in my heart telling me to "return to the route." Eventually, I figure that out and get back on track. Jeannie Blackmer Faith Step: Map out a specific course to follow Jesus as you plan your day. [Mornings With Jesus 2025 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] COMMENTARY God has given us the power of choice; it is ours to exercise. We cannot change our hearts, we cannot control our thoughts, our impulses, our affections. We cannot make ourselves pure, fit for God's service. But we can choose to serve God, we can give Him our will; then He will work in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus our whole nature will be brought under the control of Christ. Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in the life. By yielding up the will to Christ, we ally ourselves with divine power. We receive strength from above to hold us steadfast. A pure and noble life, a life of victory over appetite and lust, is possible to everyone who will unite his weak, wavering human will to the omnipotent, unwavering will of God. MH 176, 177 You need to drink daily at the fountain of truth, that you may understand the secret of pleasure and joy in the Lord. But you must remember that your will is the spring of all your actions. This will, that forms so important a factor in the character of man, was at the Fall given into the control of Satan; and he has ever since been working in man to will and to do of his own pleasure, but to the utter ruin and misery of man. But the infinite sacrifice of God in giving Jesus, His beloved Son, to become a sacrifice for sin, enables Him to say, without violating one principle of His government: "Yield yourself up to Me; give Me that will; take it from the control of Satan, and I will take possession of it; then I can work in you to will and to do of My good pleasure." When He gives you the mind of Christ, your will becomes as His will, and your character is transformed to be like Christ's character. Is it your purpose to do God's will? Do you wish to obey the Scriptures? "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." 5T 515 CLOSING THOUGHT If we are Christ's, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. All we have and are is consecrated to Him. Let's thank Jesus this month for all that He has done for us. Let us seek to bear His image, breathe His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things. Pastor Arthur Gibbs LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Luke 9:23 - MORE OF JESUS. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250526-1419.html Luke 9:23 - Turning From Your Selfish Ways. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240906-1254.html Luke 9:23 - Taking Up Your Cross Daily. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230908-0919.html Luke 9:23 - FOLLOWING JESUS. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210410-0922.html Matthew 10:39 - Living for Jesus or for Self? http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200202-0944.html Mark 8:34 - Want To Follow Jesus? http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210611-1113.html Mark 8:35 - The Right Way to Find Happiness. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211210-0856.html John 3:30 - Jesus Must Increase and I Must Decrease. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250426-1335.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |