DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 11 January 2022 — Carry your cross
DCLM Higher Everyday 11 January 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Carry your cross
TOPIC: CARRY YOUR CROSS
TEXT: MARK 8:34-38
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
MEMORY VERSE: “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (MARK 8:34).
MESSAGE:
Cross carrying is a major aspect of the Christian life that we can never do without if we wish to make heaven. In fact, take away the cross from Christianity and what you have left is mere religion and a social gathering of people without any spiritual aspiration. Cross bearing separates genuine Christians from hypocrites.
Also Read DLCM Higher Everyday Bringing the sick to the savior
To carry your cross means to bear the reproaches that come with your faith in Christ for upholding the gospel truth. Salvation attracts God’s goodness, favour, joy and abundant blessings, but also attracts persecutions from the world because it hates righteousness.
Also, Read Open Heaven For Teens The Peacemakers
A Christian youth who desires to make it to heaven at last must determine to face life’s challenges without compromising his or her faith. These challenges include suffering for Christ through persecution, hardship, ridicule from friends, denial of rights, etc.
The joyful part of it is that there are unfailing precious promises of victory for the persecuted here, and a crown of righteousness in eternity for standing for Christ in all situations. Stand for Christ, no matter the challenging situation.
QUOTE: Stand for Christ.
CHALLENGE: Ask for grace to carry the cross.
PRAYER: Lord, give me the grace to carry my cross.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
