For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Luke 9
What does it mean to you to take up your cross daily? Jesus made His comment about taking up your cross as part of a larger conversation. First, Peter had just identified Jesus as God’s Messiah. Of course, when thinking of God’s Messiah, the Jews went straight to the conquering King who would save His people from oppression. Not only were they far too short-sighted on what that oppression really was, but they also skipped right over the part about how this salvation would be accomplished. Jesus did not come in with swords blazing to overthrow the Roman government and take back what was rightfully His.
So the second part of this conversation was Jesus’ trying to explain this to His disciples. Instead of the above scenario, God’s Messiah, Master of all that is, laid down everything that was rightfully His, even to His own life, so that He could conquer the true oppressor – death – once for all. It was after this explanation that Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24). If we want Jesus to be our conquering King, we must do as He did. We must be willing to set aside everything we think is ours, even to our own lives. Only then will we be saved.
Gen. 17-18
God opened my eyes some time back to the symbolic imagery of circumcision as the sign of His covenant with Abraham. I have heard a few things about it, but it never really struck me until that point that, at its foundation, circumcision is symbolic of the removing of our own flesh – our human nature. It is only by setting aside our own ways and desires, as we have been reading about in Luke, that we can allow God to truly have His way in our hearts. So when God said, “Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant” (Gen. 17:14), it is really the same thing that Jesus said in telling us to deny ourselves and take up our cross. We cannot love God with a whole heart if we remain in the flesh.
Ps. 5
This is a lament and cry for help. What can you learn from it that affects the way you pray? We can learn a lot about prayer from David. We can also learn a lot about our relationship with God. In light of that, there are a few things that I note from this particular prayer:
- “In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice” (Ps. 5:3a). Don’t delay in going to God. Go to Him first thing to help keep you from wickedness.
- “I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Ps. 5:3b). Pray with faith that God hears and answers.
- “The arrogant cannot stand in your presence….. But I, by your great love, can come into your house” (Ps. 5:5a, 7a). Approach God with both humility and confidence – confidence in His love and mercy.
- “Lead me, LORD in your righteousness because of my enemies” (Ps. 5:8a). It is remaining steadfast in God’s ways that will save us from our enemies, not resorting to the ways of man. Their wickedness is no excuse for our own.
- “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy” (Ps. 5:11a). God is always with us. So as long as we seek and stay with Him, we will always have cause to sing for joy. No matter what we face.