Following Jesus Means Daily Death to Self
Jesus turned from the disciples and spoke to everyone listening: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” This is not a call for a few radical disciples. It is the normal Christian life. In the Roman world, taking up a cross meant walking to your own execution. Jesus was not talking about minor inconveniences. He was talkin
Jul 191 min read
![For to Us a Child Is Born
9 [a] But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.[b]
2 [c] The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon[d] his shoulder,
and his name shall be called[e]
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/763831776_10164730409894099_7974552627902696693_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=wX7NrlhxPk0Q7kNvwEcTwgx&_nc_oc=AdpnU5C-oHhgEf8DonEulHqjDxlbJTBb1MLYVGnJAmIkDe9GOWvRtK6nL1tr3sKitbI&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=qT89vyBP9racOO1R8OpoIw&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQHqWeX6I41SJXwix0O0FkISWx7pZRbcdPYLYjVSX_JG1G4el_IVURD-yG-6-CPd4hPtUejJXJlq&oh=00_AQGF0d3vzt49rgK58hRTmS7eEnL1optgf3HxGEshi8L83A&oe=6A74BB75)
![11] For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: [12] “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. [13] But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Isaiah 8:11-13](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/760793092_10164726174694099_1661163490805053358_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=bHURoK-aEjsQ7kNvwETS5FS&_nc_oc=AdplZkDWdRAKNAhovMzMhO7bWUDdKkGIaqQtSvE9tHXsCr0pox2quPlRdroYcfcQ8Pk&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=qT89vyBP9racOO1R8OpoIw&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQFEtfInE7lsxWbc62mdYnET3s81KA0IuB6SbxSPwHu7u9s7dse6Fre6HLvnYwKvJ35KQJKqEmTt&oh=00_AQGDF8DIP_l9zYyoyWpQ3VdyPxqSpQ-OfIPHWFpGdeZJGA&oe=6A74B074)
