TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Jeremiah 52:1-34
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Corinthians 5:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
In some ways, baseball is a lot like life. At any given point in the game, we never know if a certain base hit or home run is going to turn out to be the game-winning play. It’s only after the game is over that we understand the importance of each individual play.

The epilogue contained in Jeremiah 52 is much the same, as we will see when we learn more about Jehoiachin. This chapter was added by a later scribe who wanted to show how Jeremiah’s prophecies had been fulfilled (cf. 2 Kings 24:18–25:30).

Jeremiah 52 begins by repeating the horrific details of Zedekiah’s attempted escape and capture. The chapter continues with a description of Jerusalem’s destruction and the temple’s desecration. This account and the book of Lamentations describe the gut-wrenching siege and invasion of Jerusalem. Although we looked at Babylon’s part in this yesterday, we must not forget that Judah brought this judgment upon itself with its sin and rebellion.

The numbers given in verse 28 probably included adult males only; with women and children factored in, the figures would have been much higher. What’s interesting is that even though some people were left in the land, those exiled were called Judah (v. 27). These would be the people through whom God would eventually rebuild the nation.

At the very end of this chapter, we find a note about the release of Jehoiachin, who once ruled Judah (see Oct. 14). After only three months on the throne, he spent 37 years in prison, having been taken to Babylon in 597 B.C. Archeological records confirm Evil-Merodach’s kind treatment of Jehoiachin.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Throughout this month, we’ve seen how Jeremiah’s ministry pointed to our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw how this prophet lamented his people’s sin and grieved for their judgment, in much the same way as Jesus. Woven throughout Jeremiah’s preaching, we find outlined the plan of redemption: sin, judgment, repentance, grace, and salvation. It is only in the person of Jesus Christ, however, that all these themes are fulfilled. How amazing! The One who grieves our sin is also the One who has paid the price for our sin and who makes salvation possible. Amen!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 4:12-22
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” - Matthew 4:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
In recent years, the letters “WWJD?”–meaning “What Would Jesus Do?”–have been spotted on bracelets, music CDs, bumper stickers, and countless other pieces of merchandise. Last fall, a Christian environmental group scored nationwide publicity by changing the last word. “What Would Jesus Drive?” became the headline catch-phrase for their attacks on gas-guzzling SUVs.

As overhyped and overmarketed as the “WWJD?” slogan has become, the basic question remains valuable: What would Jesus do? Many are ready to say He would support their particular cause, but what does the Bible say?

This is our focus question and topic for November’s devotional study. Following Christ means considering what He would say and do as we go through our lives. To truly answer the “WWJD?” question, we must look at Scripture, setting aside our stereotypes and preconceived notions. Since we want to increase in Christlikeness–that is, in becoming like Him or imitating Him–how can we grow daily as His committed disciples?

Our study will explore biblical answers to this question from a relational perspective. Following five days of introduction, there are three main sections: (1) Jesus’ relationship with His Father; (2) His relationship with His disciples and friends; and (3) His relationship with the world. These parallel our own spheres of inner spiritual life, life within the church, and life in the world, our interactions with nonbelievers.

We begin by emphasizing that our call to discipleship is not optional or only for “super-Christians.” In the same way Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John in today’s reading, He calls every one of us to follow Him. One dictionary definition of “follow” that challenges us is “to engage in as a way of life.” If we do, we will attract others to trust and follow Him as well, becoming “fishers of men” (v. 19).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One way to your personal growth as a disciple of Christ this month may be reading one or all of the four Gospels. Many of our readings during this study will be drawn from them, but you’ll benefit even more by reading at least one from start to finish.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 21:1-22
You must follow me. - John 21:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
We know Peter as the disciple whom Jesus called a “rock” and who confessed Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” But we also know him as the disciple who crashed in grand style when he came under pressure.

How badly did Peter act? When Judas arrived with soldiers to arrest Jesus, Peter made a fool of himself with his sword and was rebuked by the Lord. Then he ran away in fear with the other disciples. Then he denied Christ three times, even after Jesus’ direct warning that he would do so (see John 18).

From a human point of view, we’d say Jesus had the right to end His friendship with Peter. But that’s not what Jesus did. He forgave Peter and called him anew to discipleship.

Jesus and Peter may have spoken privately before today’s reading; after all, Christ had appeared many times since His Resurrection. Peter may have already known he was forgiven. In any case, Jesus publicly reaffirmed Peter here as His disciple, in effect re-calling him to ministry. His question to Peter, “Do you truly love me more than these?” stressed again the necessity of total commitment (v. 15).

“More than these” might refer to the fishing gear–had Peter really left his old way of life?–or to the other disciples, in which case Jesus’ question may have been meant to humble him in light of his past boasts (see Mark 14:29).

Jesus promised that following Him would bring disgrace and suffering, and tradition has long interpreted verse 18 as a prophecy of Peter’s crucifixion. He was not to worry about or be distracted by the fates of the other disciples, but to keep his eyes firmly fixed on Christ alone (vv. 21–22).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Peter could have used his failure as an excuse to give up on discipleship and return to an “ordinary life.” What excuses do you make for not following Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:10-25
He is the head of the body, the church. - Colossians 1:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
The cover of last December’s Popular Mechanics magazine featured a “face of Christ.” Forensic anthropologists and computer programmers teamed up to examine data and construct a likeness that may well reflect Jesus’ physical appearance. The article put His height at 5-foot-1-inch and His weight at 110 pounds. The face on the cover was broad and bearded, with dark eyes, olive skin, and short, curly hair.

For their project, the team used archaeology, anatomical science, computer simulation, clay modeling, and cultural and historical background knowledge, as well as clues from the Bible. (For example, Jesus’ hair is depicted as short because of what Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 11:14.)

While we may not know exactly what Jesus looked like, we do know that one day we will see Him face to face. At the wedding supper of the Lamb, He will claim His bride, the church. That’s us!

Christ is the Head of the church, our true and ultimately only Leader (Eph. 1:22–23; Col. 1:18). While a conference speaker, author, or pioneer from church history may be inspiring, in the last analysis they are not whom we are following. In today’s reading, Paul pounded this message home. The Corin-thians were fighting over various leaders (v. 12), and Paul opposed their attitude with the foundational truth of redemption: Only Christ was crucified for our sins. The message of the Cross is the only message. Christ is the sole and supreme Leader of the church.

By splitting into factions, the Corinthians had corrupted the purity of the gospel and the unity of the body (v. 10). If Christianity is all about human leaders, then it is merely human wisdom and without redemptive power (vv. 13, 17). But since it is all about Christ, it is the power and wisdom of God (v. 25).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To continue setting the tone for this month’s topic, we suggest today that you choose a supplementary Scripture reading. Perhaps choose Colossians 1, which beautifully proclaims the supremacy of Christ, or 1 Corin-thians 12, which explores the metaphor of the body of Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Peter 2:13-25
Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. - 1 Peter 2:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
Mockingbirds, as the name implies, are probably the most skilled sound imitators in nature. Researchers have found that these birds can learn any number of songs from other birds, perhaps 180 tunes in just a few months’ time. During mating season, a male mockingbird might learn 400 songs to impress females! They have also been known to mimic cell phones, alarm clocks, frogs, crickets, sirens, and even the squeaks of a washing machine.

If only we could imitate Christ so closely! As today’s verse highlights, “imitate” and “obey” are meanings or connotations of the Greek word for “follow” (cf. Eph. 5:1–2). We might easily have entitled this month’s study “Imitating Christ.”

Today’s passage begins by commanding our submission to authority, and it gives several reasons or motivations for doing so. By submitting, we are doing good (v. 15), living as servants (v. 16), showing proper respect (v. 17), and receiving commendation from God (v. 20). This is true even when believers must submit to injustices, as Christ did, and as abused slaves in Peter’s audience were doing (v. 18). Anyone who endures suffering for the sake of righteousness can be sure they are following in the footsteps of Christ: “To this you were called” (v. 21).

Notice that the command to submit does not mean God will overlook injustice or cruelty, for He has promised to punish it. Our obedience does leave room for God’s judgment (see Rom. 12:19–21).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As you might suppose, many excellent Christian books have been written over the years on the topic of discipleship and following Christ. One classic you might add to your winter reading list has been appreciated by believers for centuries: The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 3:4-14
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings. - Philippians 3:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2000, author and speaker Anne Graham Lotz launched a two-day women’s event called “Just Give Me Jesus.” As she told Today’s Christian Woman, “I’m after the hearts of people so they can fall in love with the Lord. I’m deeply concerned that Christians listen to a lot of other believers, but don’t know how to hear their Good Shepherd’s voice.”

The “Just Give Me Jesus” meetings were born out of seasons of stress and dryness in Anne’s own life. Within a few years’ time, she and her family had experienced a hurricane, a fire, significant health problems, and the marriages of all three of her children. She said, “My heart cried out, Just Give Me Jesus, because I felt that if I had a fresh encounter with Him, my questions about what was going on in my life either could wait–or He would be the answer.”

Anne knows what the hymn writer knew–“Jesus is all the world to me.” Paul knew it, too, and he showed this central passion in today’s reading.

In essence, Paul shared his personal testimony–the amazing change that occurred in his life when he met Christ. In the past, he had trusted in his religious pedigree and zeal, but these beliefs amounted to self-centered lies. Now he desired above all else “to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings” (v. 10). For him, as it should be for us, the growing relationship with Christ was at the heart of discipleship.

Paul counted everything in his life before Christ as loss, as “rubbish” or rotten garbage. To know Christ, on the other hand, is “surpassing greatness” (v. . With truth and eternal destiny hanging in the balance, no hyperbole was too strong to express the difference. Paul’s useless past “righteousness” was based on self and law, but his new righteousness was based on faith and God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Knowing and following Christ are only possible if you have believed on Him for salvation from sin. Have you made that choice?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 15:1-17
If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. - John 15:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Nineteenth-century Presbyterian theologian Charles Hodge wrote, “The secret of holy living lies in this doctrine of the union of the believer with Christ. . . . It is by being rooted and grounded in Christ that he is strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, and is enabled to comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height of the mystery of redemption. . . . It is this doctrine which sustains him under all his trials and enables him to triumph over all his enemies; for it is not he that lives but Christ that lives in him, giving him grace sufficient for his day and purifying him unto Himself as one of His peculiar people zealous of good works.”

Our union with Christ is our source of spiritual power; to put it in terms of the metaphor in today’s reading, the secret to fruitfulness in our lives is abiding in the Vine, Jesus Christ.

We begin today exploring the first major subtopic in our study: the relationship between Jesus and His Father. We do not presume to understand the smallest part of the inner spiritual life of our Savior except as it has been revealed in His Word. The glimpses we are given are meant for us to study and imitate.

What does it mean to “remain” or “abide,” the words used in some Bible translations? It means to rest, stay, or be connected. Just as life flows from the vine to the branches, so Jesus rested in His Father and His followers are to rest in Him. To dwell with Him also means He will dwell with us (v. 4). What’s more, to abide means to obey, for how could we dwell with Him if we disregarded His commands? To live in this way is to imitate the relationship between Jesus and His Father (v. 10).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus used the image of vines, branches, and fruit as an extended metaphor of what our relationship with Him should be like. In response, why not create your own metaphor? What word picture can you think of that describes important and necessary aspects of our relationship with Him?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 16:21-28
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. - Matthew 16:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
Could he trust God’s Word? That was the question facing Billy Graham in 1949. A close friend and fellow preacher had decided he could not, and had renounced his Christian faith. “If I was not exactly doubtful,” Graham said later, “I was certainly disturbed.”

On a moonlit walk late one night, he knelt and cried out, “Father, I am going to accept this as thy Word–by faith! I’m going to allow faith to go beyond my intellectual questions and doubts, and I will believe this to be your inspired Word.”

How pivotal was this moment? “A major bridge had been crossed. In my heart and mind, I knew a spiritual battle in my soul had been fought and won.” Soon after, Graham preached at the Los Angeles crusade that started him on a road to prominence as one of the most effective evangelists of the twentieth century.

Faith in God’s Word is essential to true discipleship. It may surprise you to learn that Christ, too, lived by trusting God’s words. Jesus knew His Father’s plan that He would be betrayed, crucified, and resurrected (Matt. 17:22–23). But He had not yet experienced these events, and so He walked by faith that God’s words would surely come to pass. He trusted the plan and power of God completely. In fact, His perfect knowledge of His Father’s character led to perfect faith.

Jesus’ faith was so strong that He persevered in explaining God’s plan to His disciples, despite their slowness or unwillingness to understand. Why did He respond so forcefully when Peter contradicted Him (v. 23)? By denying God’s truthfulness, Peter had attacked Jesus’ faith and His relationship with His Father. Calling God a liar is very serious slander.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The challenging spiritual truths found in today’s Scripture reading definitely deserve more reflection! Spend some extra time today meditating on the paradox of finding life by losing it, or on the symbolism of taking up your cross to follow Jesus, or perhaps on another phrase from the passage.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 14:9-24
If you love me, you will obey what I command. - John 14:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Adele Pavarotti died last year in Italy, her son, the world-renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti, sang in London the very next day. Did her death affect him so little? No, he loved her greatly and said this about his parents: “As well as being the greatest of human beings, they both filled me with the enthusiasm that grew into a passion for music and the voice.”

His mother, he added, would have wanted the show to go on. So Pavarotti dedicated his performance to her memory, honoring her by doing what she had loved. Similarly, Jesus honored His Father by doing what He loved–and what God loves is holiness.

We sometimes get sidetracked by the idea that Jesus’ perfection was merely a function of His being the perfect sacrifice for sin. The reality is that He lived out His perfection; that is, as a human being He chose righteousness day by day, deciding every moment of His life to obey. He said He loved His Father, and the proof came in His perfect imitation of God’s holiness.

This same attitude should also be found in us. Scripture tells us, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (v. 15). “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (v. 23). “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:3, 6). “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples” (John 8:31). Interestingly, the verb “hold to” is the same Greek term we saw translated as “abide” in John 15 two days ago.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Ephesians 5:18 admonishes us, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Being filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit is the key to living a holy, obedient life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 4:1-11
Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. - Matthew 4:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Recent research has found that Caribbean spiny lobsters have an amazing ability to navigate. When dropped in strange waters more than twenty miles from their original locations, they invariably head for home, typically a coral reef.

How do they do it? By magnetism–the lobsters somehow use the earth’s magnetic field to orient and guide themselves. Though scientists are unclear exactly how the process works, the results are clear. These lobsters measure up with spawning salmon and homing pigeons as some of the top navigators in the animal kingdom!

Caribbean spiny lobsters navigate by magnetism; we navigate by God’s Word. Jesus modeled this truth in today’s reading. In His spiritual life, He resisted temptation, just as we do, and He used God’s Word to guide Him past Satan’s lies (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12).

Specifically, Jesus cited three quotations from Deuteronomy, a book of sermons by Moses that shows the heart of the Law. Against the temptation of physical hunger or weakness, He asserted faith in true provision (v. 4). Against the temptation of popularity or presumption on divine care, He asserted the responsibility of true obedience (v. 7)–in the process, correcting the Devil’s attempted manipulation of verses from Psalms. And against the temptation of compromise or idolatry, He asserted the necessity of true worship (v. 10).

On this special occasion, the Spirit led Jesus alone into the wilderness to be tested, or proven, as Messiah (v. 1). Though in Greek they are the same, our English word tested is better than tempted in this context, for we know that while God gives tests and trials, He does not tempt us to sin (see James 1:13–15).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Since Scripture is the best weapon for fighting temptation, our suggested application today is to read more of it! Choose one of these books of the Bible–Colossians, Hebrews, or Revelation. Then look for Christ in it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 6:12-16
Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. - Luke 6:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
How important is prayer? Philosophy professor Peter Kreeft said, “I strongly suspect that if we saw all the difference even the tiniest of our prayers make, and all the people those little prayers were destined to affect, and all the consequences of those prayers down through the centuries–we would be so paralyzed with awe at the power of prayer that we would be unable to get up off our knees for the rest of our lives.”

This is one reason why Jesus prayed as an essential foundation in His spiritual life. He “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). He prayed after John baptized Him. He withdrew to pray after feeding the five thousand. He preached on true prayer in the Sermon on the Mount and taught His disciples how to pray (Matt. 6:5–15). He prayed with Peter, James, and John on the mountain before His Transfiguration. He prayed for Himself, His disciples, and all future believers (John 17). He agonized in prayer on the night of His betrayal. Prayer was a key part of His spiritual walk.

In today’s reading, Jesus withdrew from the crowds, including both friends and enemies. He needed solitude. He withdrew to a mountainside, a beautiful natural setting. Being alone with God’s creation often sets up helpful conditions for deeper prayer. Jesus did not want anything to distract from hearing the Father’s voice.

In context, Jesus’ mind was on the choosing of His twelve disciples. This was a major decision, and He wanted to know His Father’s will about it. How strong was this desire? Strong enough to spend the entire night in prayer!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How’s your prayer life these days? Is it regular? Does it include praise, confession, and intercession? Is it a key part of your personal devotions? Do you keep a list? Have you tried various postures for praying? Do you pray back Scripture? Can you say that the attitude of your heart is to “pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17)?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 2:5-11
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 2:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
After a promising start with a coat of many colors, Joseph’s career appeared to go downhill. He was thrown into a pit by his jealous brothers and sold into slavery in a foreign country. While there, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. A chance for release came when he interpreted a court official’s dream, but it was squandered when the man forgot about him.

Yet in His time God raised Joseph to a high position in Egypt, which enabled him to save many from starvation during a severe famine. That’s why he said to his brothers, “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Gen. 45:7; 50:20).

Jesus, like Joseph, understood that God has a sovereign plan, and He humbly submitted to it. As we follow Him, our attitudes “should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (v. 5).

Humility was central to Jesus’ attitude. In the Incarnation, He became one of us. He laid aside His divine glory to walk the earth as a man. He did it to serve us. He did none of this halfway, but to the uttermost, obeying God’s plan all the way to death (vv. 6–8).

This is the highest example of humility–if it seems overwhelming or out of reach, just read back a few verses earlier. In his introduction, Paul had explained humility in more everyday terms as esteeming and loving others above self (vv. 3–4). This is precisely what Christ did.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you have not yet memorized today’s passage, take some time to memorize these wonderful verses. They are an excellent and memorable summary of the actions, motivations, and destiny of our Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 14:32-50
Yet not what I will, but what you will. - Mark 14:36
TODAY IN THE WORD
In a medieval illuminated manuscript, an unknown Byzantine artist captured “The Agony in the Garden” described in today’s reading. The illustration, in a text known as the Gospel Book, dates to the late 1200s. Today it is kept in the Getty Museum.

In one corner of the full-page picture, Jesus confronts Peter, perhaps for denying Him. The sleeping disciples form a “mountain” that fills the left side of the picture. In the rest, Jesus prays alone, separated both from His disciples and from an angel waiting to minister to Him.

The Garden of Gethsemane marked an intense spiritual struggle in the life of our Savior. We spoke yesterday of Jesus’ humble submission, and today we see that this attitude was in effect not only in the good times, but also and especially in the tough times. Under duress, on the brink of suffering and death, Jesus continued to choose submission to His Father’s will. The bottom line never changed.

Jesus was human, though, and the struggle was real. He was not serene or untouchable, as some paintings show Him. He felt mental anguish. The text says “deeply distressed and troubled,” two verbs that in Greek powerfully and even shockingly connote amazement, fear, and awe (v. 33). The thought of being separated from His beloved “Abba” and bearing the sin of the entire world was almost too much. He told His disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” or more colloquially, “My heart is ready to break with grief” (v. 34, neb).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Another form of the prayer found in today’s verse is “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42, kjv). If you wish, pray these words throughout the day as a “hesychastic prayer.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 12:23-36
The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. - John 12:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
You may be familiar with the phrase, “the cost of discipleship,” but have you ever considered “the cost of nondiscipleship”?

Dallas Willard wrote in The Spirit of the Disciplines: “The cost of nondiscipleship is far greater–even when this life alone is considered–than the price paid to walk with Jesus. Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith that sees everything in the light of God’s overriding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil. In short, it costs exactly that abundance of life Jesus said He came to bring (John 10:10).”

In short, the “cost” of discipleship is nothing compared to what awaits us! Jesus knew this, too, which is why He interacted with the Father in the ways we’ve been studying and should be imitating.

In today’s reading, Jesus used a natural object lesson–a seed–to instruct His disciples. Before a seed can live, it must die. To yield fruit, it must be buried in the ground. In context, Jesus was predicting His death and resurrection. He would die and be buried, but His life would continue and bring glory to God (v. 32). By saying, “Whoever serves me must follow me,” He indicated the need for His disciples to surrender their wills in a similar way(v. 26).

Jesus meant that those who follow Him must live by wholly different goals and values than the world does. To love eternal life and to pursue a God-glorifying way of life is to hate, by comparison, self-centered, earthly life, and to let go of its fleeting pursuits and pleasures. As Jesus did, we must love the Father’s plan and glory more than our very lives. It’s a paradoxical trade–giving up one kind of life to gain a better one, whereas those who strive for the lesser life lose even that (v. 25).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We’d like to suggest another creative application today. One option is to create a metaphor, as on November 6. Like Jesus’ picture of the seed falling into the ground, your metaphor should capture all or part of the spiritual truth of abandoning earthly ambition in favor of heavenly reward.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 9:57-62
No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. - Luke 9:62
TODAY IN THE WORD
“The way of the Cross,” wrote James Montgomery Boice in The Heart of the Cross, “is about Christian discipleship, and the problem is that there is very little actual following of Jesus Christ in our time. Discipleship means forsaking everything in order to follow Christ. But for many of today’s Christians it is the case that while there is much talk about Christ and even much furious activity that is supposedly done in His name, there is actually very little following of Christ Himself. That means there is very little genuine Christianity.”

Strong words! And a bold, biblical challenge to us. Do we take today’s verse seriously? We begin today the second major subtopic in our study of following Christ, examining for about a week His interactions with disciples and friends.

The basic lesson here was simple: Choose discipleship, do it, live it, don’t look back. Remember Lot’s wife! There can be nothing halfway about it–it’s all or nothing. Following Jesus must be an all–consuming priority and passion, or it’s not really following at all.

Three brief encounters illustrated, by contrast, this principle. The first person announced his willingness to follow, but Jesus questioned the depth of his commitment. Was he ready for hardship? Could he handle being “homeless”? The second person was invited to follow, but he hedged. His answer indicated he wanted to wait until his father died. He was unwilling to give up the good (honoring parents) for the best (God’s kingdom). The third person was willing to follow . . . later. He had some things to take care of first. His old way of life still claimed his attention.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To close your devotional time today, sing several songs about discipleship and following Christ.

Possibilities include hymns such as “Where He Leads Me” and “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” as well as choruses including “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” and “God Will Make a Way.”