Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 St Peter’s Day and St. Paul’s Day

Bible portion: Luke 9:23-27

Key Verse: "Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." (Luke 9:24)


Devotion:

Jesus' words are stark and clear: following Him comes at a cost. We must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and lose our life for His sake. This is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment to surrender our will to His. Jesus' teachings are not always easy to follow; in fact, they often challenge us to the core. In Luke 9:23-27, Jesus presents us with a stark reality: following Him comes at a cost. Are we willing to pay the price?

 

Eric Liddell, a Scottish Olympic gold medalist and Christian missionary, exemplified this willingness to pay the price. He refused to compete on Sundays during the 1924 ParisOlympics, honoring the Bible's teaching that Sundays are set apart for God. Following Jesus means honoring Him and counting Him more precious than anything. This requires:

1. Surrender: Surrendering our desires, ambitions, and dreams to Jesus' will.

2. Loss: Being willing to lose our life, reputation, and comfort for Jesus' sake.

3. Gain: Finding true life, eternal life, and a life truly lived in losing our life for Jesus.

St. Peter and St. Paul, disciples who spread the gospel with great zeal, exemplify this willingness to lose everything for Christ. Peter, an experienced fisherman and energetic leader, and Paul, a scholar and former persecutor of Christians, both used their talents and resources to spread the gospel. God used them mightily to gain many for His kingdom. Though they have passed on, their legacy lives on, inspiring us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus to gain our life.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to surrender my life to Your will, to lose my life for Your sake, and to find true life in You. Give me the courage to follow You, no matter the cost. Amen.

Thought for the Day:

"The greatest gain in life is not what we get, but what we give up for Jesus' sake. May our lives be marked by surrender, sacrifice, and a willingness to lose everything for the One who gave us everything."

  

Rev Ashish Thomas George
Carmel Mar Thoma Church, Boston

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