RPG Adults
SO SHALL YE BE MY DISCIPLES (II)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Matthew 10:37-42
Luke 9:23
“If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up
his cross daily, and follow me.”
SO SHALL YE BE MY DISCIPLES (II)
Jesus did not teach His disciples to do what He had not done. He had a clear purpose in His life. He humbled Himself and came into the world to give His life, to serve and not to be served, to bear witness of the truth, to seek and do His Father’s will, to glorify His Father, and to obey His Father unto death for the salvation of mankind (Luke 22:42). He said, “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15), and Peter later encouraged Christians, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Pet 2:21).
(a) Take up the cross and follow Him: As our Lord is holy and righteous while we are sinners with sinful desires and selfish ambitions, He expects us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him (Matt 10:38; Luke 9:23). This means to be willing to die to our “self,” our selfishness, self-will, self-ambition, self-glory, self-promotion, self-love, even our self-righteousness, etc. in order to totally submit to God’s will. It also means to be willing to die to sinful lusts and to the world with all worldly attractions (Gal 2:20; 5:24; 6:14). Are we willing to take our cross and follow our Lord Jesus?
(b) Love God above all with full obedience: Our Lord Jesus loved Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:51; John 19:26-27), but He loved God above all by only doing God’s will according to His timing (Matt 12:47-50; John 2:4; 7:3-8). Jesus requires His disciples to love God and obey Him above all. Are we willing to do that?
(c) Be committed, loyal and faithful: Our Lord requires His disciples to be committed, loyal and faithful to Him and His Word unto death (Rev 2:10). “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31). Are we truly committed and faithful to Jesus?
THOUGHT: Take up our cross daily and follow the Lord faithfully until death.
PRAYER: Father, please help me love and obey Thee and Thy Word above all.