Thursday, February 26, 2015

Mark 8:34-38
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let
them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

We are all given the gift of this challenge. The challenge Jesus presented to the multitudes and
the disciples was to truly believe that He was given to us by God to fulfill the message of the
scriptures. Jesus was always God's obedient Son. Therefore, if we are to follow Jesus we are also
to be just as focused as He in obeying God. If we are to be disciples and followers of that Great
Gift it must be a complete and selfless commitment. There are crosses enough for us all. The
cross represents God's awesome power, wisdom and love. May we bear our crosses as we would
a standard, a flag, for all the world to see; never looking back at what was left behind.
Almighty and awesome God,
We thank you for your gift of love, found in your Son, Jesus Christ.
May our efforts to learn become more focused
and may we continue to grow in faith.
Amen
S. (Webb) Cosgrove
(From 2003 Devotional)