Archive for January 5th, 2012

Posted on January 5, 2012 - by genes

Matthew 16: 24-27

When reading this passage it is important to remember the context in which it was uttered.  After Peter’s good confession that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus talked more openly about His impending crucifixion.  That was not something the apostles want to hear.   Once again, it was Peter who blurted out that this could never be allowed to happen.  Jesus rebuked him with the explaination that his crucifixion was a part of the master plan of God.  It was at that point that he taught a very hard lesson:  Following Jesus was more than believing Him to be the Christ, it meant following a crucified Christ by dyeing to their old self  and putting the kingdom work of God before their own desires.  The true good confession is not so much something that is merely said but something that is done as we order our daily priorities based on the example of Christ. 

Posted on January 5, 2012 - by susanm

January 5, 2012

Today’s special message from Jesus Christ is:

Matthew 16:24-27
New International Version (NIV)

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

 

Optional reading pages 19 & 20 from the book The Greatest Words Ever Spoken by Steven K. Scott.