Persistently follow Jesus

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might read 'Welcome,' the first post, dated November 12, 2008, in the archives

Monday, May 18, 2009
Devotions: Ps 77, 80; Deut 8:1-10; Jas 1:1-15; Lk 9:18-27

I long for God, day and night. I meditate and search my spirit. And I realize that God is ever faithful; He has never let me down. God, Your way is holy, and You are holy. There is no other God like You—Creator and Master, Redeemer and Savior of Your people. Restore us today, O God! Shine upon us and save us, Lord God of Hosts. We are ravaged by savage beasts. Protect Your own, dear Father.

Moses preached: ‘Be careful to do God’s commands, and you will possess the land of promise. Keep God’s holiness and steadfast love in mind—and be humble, recalling your own sins. He kept you forty years in the wilderness—your clothing and shoes lasted that whole time, by God’s grace. God disciplines you as a father disciplines his beloved son. Show Him respect, and God will bring you into a wonderful land, fruitful and satisfying.’

James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes: ‘To the twelve tribes in the Diaspora, greeting: account it joy, brothers, when you meet various trials; remain steadfast, so you can grow to maturity and completion, lacking nothing. If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God, Who gives generously, without reproach or bias, to all people. Let any requests to God be made with faith, because doubt leaves one confused and unstable. Recalling our mortality, let the lowly claim exaltation, and the rich be humble—because our station will change when this mortal life has passed. Blessed are they who endure trials; for God will grant them a lasting crown of life, because they have truly loved God. Let no one claim that God has tempted him; God does no such thing. Our temptations arise in our own desires; these give rise to sin, and sin leads surely to death!’

Alone with His closest followers, Jesus asked them: ‘Who do the people say I Am?’ They answered: ‘Some say You’re John the Baptist; others, Elijah or one of the ancient prophets returned to us.’ Jesus asked them directly, ‘But Who do you say I Am?’ Peter replied, ‘The Messiah of God!’ Jesus charged them to reveal this to no one, saying, ‘The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’ 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. To save your life, you must surrender it; if you cling to your life, you’ll surely lose it! It profits a person nothing to gain the whole world and to lose oneself. Anyone who is ashamed of Me and My words will be denied by the Son of man when He comes in His glory, and that of the Father and the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here right now who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God!’