Daily Digest

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

I think of the question that may have been asked is, “why them”.  Jesus talks about these different people, none of whom Jesus points out are any worse or better than anyone else but all die untimely deaths by various means. They are all physically dead, but he seems to be drawing a different parallel here.

None of us can know when or how we will die, but all of us need to repent (turn from sin) for we all fall short … (Rom 3:23), all of us will die from this life but are we ready for the next? Are we prepared? Jesus is pointing out that individual repentance needs to be the top priority for all now. Don’t wait until later. .. later may not come.

Lord Jesus I pray for those in my world, precious people I love, that have yet to repent & surrender their hearts to you. Holy Spirit continue to draw them and use me in their lives until they too see the reality of your Kingdom. Amen

Written by Suzie Hodgson

41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” 42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

This is quite a sobering passage detailing the value God places on faithful servant hood.  There are consequences for being faithful or unfaithful, reward and punishment respectively.  It also talks about the importance of knowing what the master or God wants from us.

As believers we know that there will come a time where we are called to account but we don’t know when.  These verses therefore, advise us to always be ready and not to slacken off or make assumptions about timing.  To always be ready is quite something but is in fact what we are called to do.  We don’t serve in vain though, we are told plainly that there is reward.  It is a great encouragement to use the gifts God has given us and to seek his purposes above our own.

Dear Lord,  help us to understand what you are calling us to do and to remain faithful along the way. Help us to use the gifts and resources you have given us wisely.  Help us not to shy away from responsibility but rather serve faithfully continuously.  Amen

Written by Ps. Ainslie Woods

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[a]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What is my life’s ultimate pursuit? Is it food…clothing…or the Kingdom of God.

According to Jesus, my life is for more than simply eating food, and my body is for more than clothes.

If I know that a computer is able to do more than play my music…then to use the computer simply for playing music is to undervalue and underutilise the potential of my computer.

To live only for the food we can gather and eat, and the clothes we can purchase and wear, is to undervalue our lives and our potential according to God.

My greatest value and potential is unlocked in pursuing the things of his Kingdom. I am at my fullest potential when I know my life is shaped around the priority of living for his Kingdom, and bringing others into His Kingdom.

The wonderful promise in pursuing His Kingdom is that the other priorities of food and clothing are taken care of “as well.” But not just taken care of. The promise in these passages is that God will care for us much more than He does the ravens he feeds, and much more than the flowers of the field he dresses in greater splendour than that of King Solomon.

Lord, help me live in the fullness of my purpose – for your Kingdom to come, and your will to be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Amen

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. 9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

This scripture speaks to me about being someone who defends the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We have seen recently many people who successfully defend the Gospel and others where the outcome maybe not have been what they intended.  Most of the disciples of Jesus were physically killed for their faith in Jesus Christ.  They defended it to their last breath.

Today we see believers defending our faith and our belief on television, Instagram, Facebook and other means of communication.

I love the fact that Jesus says to us “when they drag you into their meeting places, or into police courts and before judges, don’t worry about defending yourselves – what you’ll say or how you’ll say it.  The right words will be there.  The Holy Spirit will give you the right words when the time comes.”

But we do need to be people to STAND.  If we are being persecuted or vilified, we need to know WHO we believe in and why.  That is why having a real and active faith in Christ is so important.  Reading the word, listening to the Holy Spirit and receiving a word to our own hearts and minds each day is what helps us strengthen our faith in Christ.

Lord each day please speak to me afresh – like new water for my soul.  You know what I need to hear.  You know what I need to be challenged in.  Help me to live for you in all that I say and do.

Written by Ps. Sue Botta

37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. 39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. 42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. 43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. 44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.” 45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” 46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. 47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ 50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all. 52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” 53 When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say.

Who truly sees the inside of us, but Jesus? As I read this passage, I see two types of expertise Jesus was exposing: the Pharisee’s had become experts in diverting theirs and everyone else’s attention away from the inner life. The murky waters of personal desires and inner motives. And the teachers of the law had become experts in preventing everyone else from experiencing what they themselves had not experienced. A true knowledge of God.

All of it was a show to avoid the real problem – poverty of inner peace and righteousness, poverty of true relationship with God. The warning to me is simply this – I must work first on a healthy inner life. I must cultivate a heart that is being healed by God to love as God loves and experiences a true knowledge of God born of real encounters with Him.

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh

29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.

We see here that Jesus is using the Old Testament, what the Jews understood in great detail, to help them understand who he was and what he was there to do.  Consistently the Jews would ask for a miraculous sign in order for Jesus to prove who he was, however, Jesus here is trying to help them understand that his teaching is just as much a sign.  When Jonah went to the Ninevites, his teaching was the sign that they needed in order to correct their ways, same as Solomon’s wisdom was a sign that he was sent by God.  Jesus is trying to help the Jews understand that his teaching is just as much of a sign that he is the Son of God to their generation.

We need to understand that what Jesus says is of crucial significance.  It allows us to understand who he is as the Son of God and the savior of the world.  We need to allow the words of Christ, and the Bible, to be a sign that God is who he says he is and that we need to align our ways to how he calls us to live.

Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus.  Help us today to apply his word and allow it to be a sign for us but also, by the Holy Spirit, allow the evidence of it in our lives be a sign for those around us. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Written by Ps. Annique Botta

14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. 17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. 23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”

Some sins have spirits attached to them. Maybe all sins do. Some spirits are stubborn and only the Word, the Blood and the Name of Jesus can get rid of them. But what happens when they go? What should we do next?

I wonder if Jesus is giving us a picture, here in this passage, of spiritual first-aid. The wounds left behind when the enemy’s arrows are finally removed have to be cared for properly so that infection doesn’t set in (ie “a stronger man” see verse 22) or 7 “super bugs” find the open wound (see verse 26). To say “phew, glad that’s over! What’s on Netflix?” isn’t going to cut it. We need to invite the Holy Spirit to enter that vacant space – that wound. We need His power, His healing oil – no one is stronger! (See Romans 8:11) We need to bandage and cover the wound with the shield of faith – that’s what keeps the evil out. (See Ephesians 6:16) We need to pick up the Sword of the Spirit – God’s word. (See Ephesians 6:17) We need to begin again to wield the promises of our Heavenly Father like a weapon that will never fail. We need to get ourselves back into the battle that is already won!

Lord, help me not be naive about the battle around me and the wounds caused by sin and the enemy. I confess, I repent, I banish in Jesus name, I invite You in, Holy Spirit – I’ll pick up my shield and my sword and get back into the fight – in Jesus Name!

Written by Boudy Van Noppen

11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

I wonder just what the disciples were expecting Jesus to teach them? Perhaps they were expecting something like a secret password to unlock the power of God. Were they expecting something complicated? Were they really clueless about prayer after spending such a lot of time with Jesus?? But maybe it’s a reminder that no matter how close to God we are, or how long I have been a Christian it doesn’t hurt to be reminded how to approach Our Heavenly Father.

Jesus keeps it simple – glorify God and His purposes first. Acknowledge Gods provision in all things. Keep accounts short with God and treat others in the same way. Of course, there is more in the next verses, but it remains simple. I don’t need to make my relationship with God complex or difficult. It’s about being real. Knowing God is first and almighty. Knowing that I owe everything to Him and acknowledging that sometimes life is difficult (otherwise there wouldn’t be a need for mention of sin or temptation!). Maybe it wouldn’t hurt me to pray this prayer a little more often.

Heavenly Father. Praise your greatness and might. Help me to be part of your kingdom plans today. Thank you, Father, for my job and family, please bless them both. I thank you Lord for your forgiveness and confess the times I have not bought Glory to you. Give me your strength to walk your paths. In Jesus name. Amen

Written by Christine Knight

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

This parable speaks directly to me today. Jesus is saying there is no limit to the concept of ‘neighbour’; I cannot put any boundaries around who I consider my neighbour. And my neighbour is worthy of my love and mercy. In fact, I am to love my neighbour as I love myself. This is half of my entire responsibility to God!

There are people I gel with, I may have just met them but we seem to have things in common that allow us to talk like we are good friends. Then there are people who hold such different assumptions about life and the way things are done, that they feel almost alien to me. Both are my neighbour.

Political opinion, religion, language, customs and culture – none of these are to be barriers to me living out half of my responsibility to God. If I follow Jesus there is no option.

“Lord, teach me and renew me to love my neighbour as myself”.

Written by Andrew Mellor

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. 13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[b] 16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus was about to travel to a series of towns and in preparation for His visit He sent a series of people two by two to the towns to prepare the way.  They were to heal the sick.  Jesus knew that in preparation to hear the message of the Kingdom some preparation work was required in these towns.  Jesus also made plain that if they were not welcomed then He would not be welcomed, this also formed some of the reconnaissance.

In some situations, people’s hearts need to be prepared to receive the news of the kingdom of God, the Gospel.  Healing ministry is a good means by which this can happen and provides a platform to receive the Good News.  In other situations some people respond negatively to anyone they deem to be lesser than the person they want to speak with – yet Jesus knows that as He has sent the disciples He has given them authority and so receiving them is as if a person is receiving Him.  He notes, that if you reject the disciples then you are rejecting Jesus.

It calls to mind how often I may have thought less of a person than I should not understanding that, at times, people have been sent by another as a forerunner.  Decisions may have been made on the reception I gave to the ‘ambassador’ rather than the person and this may not have gone well for me as a result.

Father help me to minister healing to open doors for Your kingdom and may I treat everyone with equal grace and so entertain angels!

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.

How do I respond when someone opposes me?

I can think of a number of times in my life, where I needed to get something important done, but for one reason or another, someone, or a group of people, felt the need to oppose what I was doing.

Recently I stood up for someone in my local community who had been unfairly treated by a government department, but it seemed impossible to get any sort of reconciliation or even an acknowledgement that the treatment of this person was unfair. After many many hours of advocacy, I still don’t feel like I have gotten anywhere because of the level of opposition.

I must say that I can identify with the disciples here. My human nature is to want to overcome opposition. My human nature is also that I want to make life difficult for those who make things hard for me.

But the message of Christ is demonstrated here as much as it is spoken in Matthew 4:43-44:

“You have heard it said “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy” but I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”

I honestly think that this is one of the hardest and most costly messages that is central to the mission of Christ. Not just in the challenge of actually living out this very challenging call to be a person of peace, but also in the challenges of how nuanced it can be to “love my enemies” and how much I am meant to “pray for those who persecute me”.

Do I just pray that they would see the light? Do I pray for their salvation in Christ? Or do I genuinely pray for their wellbeing and prosperity in the exact opposite spirit to what my human nature desires? And how much am I meant to have my actions follow my prayers!!?

Lord, I thank you for this word today and the challenge that it brings to me. Father help me to truly continue to wrestle with the principles that you call me to live by.

Written by Ps. Justin Ware

37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.” 41 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

In our passage for today we are seeing Jesus minister in one of the 4 key ways in which he did during his 3 years of Ministry.  Deliverance was central to what Jesus did. We see an utterly desperate father, taking a step of faith firstly asking the disciples to heal his son and then Jesus.  I love the desperation the father has, as any dad would, he takes a position of begging Jesus. However, Jesus response is quick and immediate to the father’s distress for the sons struggle.

Before delivering the son, Jesus takes the time to rebuke his disciples.  He knows that they have the authority, at the beginning of chapter 9 Jesus had sent them out to teach and heal, yet had they so quickly forgotten how God had used them previously?

The disciple’s hesitation and inability to deliver this young son challenges me.  It makes me ask the question, where am I incapable or ineffective because of unbelief? Where am I enabled by the Holy Spirit to bring healing or deliverance yet unable because of my weakness?

Jesus, thank you that you give us opportunities to show your power and love in this world.  Help us to remember that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in each of us.  Help me today to move in the authority of who you are and call me to be, taking the opportunity to maximize the moments you give rather than go through the motions.   In Jesus Name, Amen!

Written by Ps. Annique Botta

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

This famous quote of Jesus contains an amazing truth – losing my life equals saving my life. Perhaps this could be summed up as sacrifice yourself and find yourself.

The Message translation of v24 makes it clear – “Self help is no help at all. Self sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.” Rather than trying to reinvent myself, or trying to be someone I am not to get the blessing of God (eg. Esau trying to be Jacob to get Isaacs’s blessing), Jesus says give up yourself to God. I notice this sacrifice is:

Deliberate

With purpose

Costly

Our example is Jesus, who sacrificed himself for us. He trusted God the Father that this sacrifice was what was needed and had purpose. This sacrifice was his purpose, and God honoured him and raised him to sit at his right hand.

When I sacrifice myself (my money, my time, my plans, my comfort) I rely on God to provide. My heart turns to him. These sacrifices are precious because through then I turn to Jesus. These sacrifices are not burdens or obligations but lead me to God. There I find myself.

Am I clinging to the self made me or the me I think I should be? How costly that will be to lose myself.

Dear Jesus, thank you for taking up your cross and sacrificing yourself in my place. Only when I lose myself will I find myself in you. I commit to sacrificing my life to you again. I want to draw nearer to you Lord. Amen

Written by Claire Moore