23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
Dear Jesus,
This morning I read a news story about a college football team on a missions trip to Ethiopia. Landon, a kicker on the team, befriended Dejene, a fourteen year-old Ethiopian street child. That friendship emerged into life transformation for Dejene, now called Josh. Josh is now living in North Carolina and is being adopted into an American family. His life is transformed with hope and a future.
I could not help but think about Landon's willingness to be inconvenienced by an annoying street kid. His willingness to be inconvenienced developed into sacrificial love, giving of his own time and resources to help a child.
Lord, it is only in losing my life in You that I find my life.
In a quest to live responsibly, I fear I have become somewhat selfish. I don't want to be selfish. I want to be generous, giving and caring. I want to carry Your cross.
"Not only is the church at times refusing to carry its cross, but the unchurched are certainly refusing to carry their cross" (Ford Philpot in So You Want a Mountain, 1964, p. 99). Philpot goes on to say that socialist redistribution of wealth, excessive government taxation, and miserly church members are "compelling other folk to carry their cross." He asks, "Are you robbing Him by refusing to give out of the abundance that He has given you?" (ibid., p. 101).
Lord, I am Yours. My resources are Yours. Peel away the grasping control of my tight clasp upon my life, and invite me afresh to the cross. I refuse to rob You. I am abandoned to Your cross.
Thank You for striving with my heart to insist upon Your Lordship of my life. I yield to You afresh.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
"Not only is the church at times refusing to carry its cross, but the unchurched are certainly refusing to carry their cross" (Ford Philpot in So You Want a Mountain, 1964, p. 99). Philpot goes on to say that socialist redistribution of wealth, excessive government taxation, and miserly church members are "compelling other folk to carry their cross." He asks, "Are you robbing Him by refusing to give out of the abundance that He has given you?" (ibid., p. 101).
Lord, I am Yours. My resources are Yours. Peel away the grasping control of my tight clasp upon my life, and invite me afresh to the cross. I refuse to rob You. I am abandoned to Your cross.
Thank You for striving with my heart to insist upon Your Lordship of my life. I yield to You afresh.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
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