Wednesday: HELP! I NEED SOMEBODY!

Jun 22, 2022
2 min read

Lord, I feel alone today. Thank You for the comfort You provide me every day. Would You also send someone my way to encourage me in my walk with You?

Luke 9:23-26

Then he said to them all: “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. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 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.

Jesus’ words are clear to those who desire to be a disciple. Being His disciple will require discipline. Just as a soldier surrenders his life to his commanding officer, Jesus requires that I surrender my life to Him in order for me to be of use to Him.

As His disciple, Jesus commands me to:

· Deny myself. This will require discipline. As I remove my will, I fully engage with Jesus’ will.

· Take up my cross daily. This requires me to fully embrace the life of Jesus, including His pain and His suffering, so I can focus on what He has for me.

· Follow Him. Once I have removed my will as an obstacle and embraced His life, I can follow Him wherever He leads.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: If I use my life to gain the things of this world, I will be self-focused, and my mind will not be focused on what Jesus asks me to focus on. If I’m not focused on Him, how can I be His disciple?

If I am ashamed to embrace His life wholly, then He says that He will also be ashamed of me. I desire to follow Him, but my will keeps getting in the way. What can I do about this?

Jesus sent His disciples out two by two, so each could lift the other up with encouragement and also hold the other accountable for this daily process of self-denial, taking up the cross and following Him. If I desire to be Jesus’ disciple, I need someone to coach and mentor me in His ways.

Lord, thank You for Your clear instructions which guide me in being Your disciple. Guide me to those You have called me to walk alongside to help me keep my focus on You.

May you be blessed, Chaplain Wayne Ruckman