Bible Verse for Today 19 November 2024, Tuesday Message
Bible Verse for Today 19 November 2024 TOPIC: Bearing The Cross
And anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. — Matt 10:38
It is remarkable that in Matthew 10:37, Jesus faces all of humanity and demands their supreme love, asking us to love Him more than even our closest family members. He does not explain or justify His request. The only reason this claim is reasonable is that He is the Son of God who died for us on the cross and that each of us holds a special place in His divine-human love. How sobering is the phrase, “is not worthy of Me.” In this sense, there is not one among us who is truly worthy of our Lord.
Christ asks not only for our hearts but for our entire lives. Self-denial for His sake is the mark of a true disciple. It is a strange procession, this group of cross-bearers following the Crucified One. Each person has their own specific form of self-denial, and it must be undertaken willingly.
The confession Christ asks from us is not just a one-time profession of faith with our lips; it is a continuous acknowledgment of Him, both in word and deed, throughout our lives. The surrounding verses make it clear that this confession will often have to be maintained in the face of opposition, sometimes in its most painful form—opposition from within our own homes.
Many of us would find it easier to face external persecution or the wrath of a tyrant than to endure the teasing, sneers, and criticisms of those closest to us. In every generation, there have been those who stood completely alone for Christ, not hating their loved ones but being hated by them because of their allegiance to Him. It is often the case that the most devoted love and care is met with cold indifference or even outright persecution.
Nothing is harder to bear, but the only course we have is to silence the critics through patient perseverance in doing good, always trusting that God is faithful and that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can endure.
PRAYER: Be the strength and comfort in every trouble and need we face, O God. If we suffer for Christ, may we not retaliate; if we are spoken against, may we respond with blessings; if we face fiery trials, may we rejoice; if we are lonely and desolate, may the Holy Spirit make Jesus real to us. Amen.
ALSO, READ: Our Daily Bread 19 November 2024 Tuesday Devotional – Strong Support in Christ
PRAYER OF SALVATION
Accept God’s free gift of Salvation Do you want to have a personal relationship with God? We invite you to accept His free gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)You can pray the following prayer right now to ask God to come into your heart so that you can receive the miracle of new birth:
‘Almighty God, I come to you today. I confess that I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus Christ came to this world, he died on the cross for my sins, and rose again triumphant on the third day. Right now I repent of my sins, and ask Jesus Christ to come into my life to be my Lord and personal Saviour. I believe according to your Word that I am now saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me from my sins. In Jesus Name, amen.’If you have prayed the prayer above – congratulations! There is much rejoicing in heaven!