A Daily Devotion for Wednesday, August 3

Luke 9:23, 14:27

Then he said to them all; “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

These words from Jesus remind us that we are not the master of our own universe when we choose to follow Jesus. But we are still responsible for our own “stuff.” I am not sure how to understand this, exactly. We are invited to hand over our cares and our worries to God over and over in scripture. What does it mean, then, to “take up your cross”? Maybe these words from Jesus are to tell us we are not to give up all responsibility when we follow Him. We still have to do the right thing and face consequences. But in following Jesus we have the best teacher.

Holy Lord, your word today makes me think and wonder. How I would have loved to be one of your disciples, like Mary, who heard your words and lived in your presence. May I live in your presence every day, with your Holy Spirit. Amen

Becky, transforming