Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 105
Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Third Day singing … Carry My Cross … poignantly singing. … as Jesus would, … about His calling and mission to carry that cross and to be crucified to save all mankind from our sins.
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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Mark 15:21 [NLT] …
21 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.
… Mark documents the scene where Simon, a passerby was enlisted by the Romans to carry Jesus’ cross to Golgotha.
Highlight Passage [Context]: … Mark 15:16-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… On His way to the cross, Simon, a Cyrenian, was taken from the crowd of mockers and observers and forced to take up Jesus’ cross, carrying it to Golgotha where Jesus was crucified.
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Reference Passage: … Matthew 16:24 [NLT] …
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. …”
… Jesus, commands His disciples (and us too) that only those who are willing to deny ourselves and take up HIs cross (i.e, the sufferings of this world) are worthy of being His disciples.
Reference Passage: … Mark 8:34-35 [NLT] …
34 Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. … “
… Jesus, thru Mark’s gospel account, calls for those who are surrendered to follow Jesus must be willing take up His cross (i.e., His mission), and to even die for it, will truly be His disciples.
Reference Passage: … Luke 9:23-24 [NLT] …
23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
… And Luke also quotes Jesus’ teaching on being willing to give up our lives to follow Him.
My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Lisa M Samra … AT THIS LINK … highlights a painting by Dutch Artist, Egbert Modderman, who painted the haunting eyes of Simon of Cyrene, who carried Jesus’ cross to Calvary (see photo).
To me the painting shows a man, who was highlighted by all three synoptic Gospels, telling of this man from Africa, who was likely a Jew in Jerusalem for the Passover feast; and who was forced by the Romans to carry Jesus’ cross to Golgotha. And all three of these Gospel authors also use that imagery to call on Christians, … but this time WILLINGLY, … to carry our Lord’s cross <b>(see Scriptures above)</b> to be worthy of being a true disciple of Christ.
And from this ODB entry, we all need to be asking ourselves, … Am I willing to deny myself and take up any cross or suffering, which Jesus calls us to carry, in order to follow Him? … Because if we are not so willing - and even to die for Him - we are not worthy to call ourselves “DISCIPLES of Christ.”
My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for calling on me to carry Your cross today.
My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to take up Your cross today, Lord, so that we can serve You as Your disciple. Amen
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Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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