Be Joyful While Carrying The Cross Keluarga Allah Daily Devotional October 14, 2017
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THE SOUL Acts 5:26-42
TODAY'S RHEMA Acts 5:41 "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."
While spreading the gospel, the apostles experienced many obstacles against their faith. They were mocked, ridiculed, imprisoned and killed. But they still endured, and they were faithful to God. They agreed that all those obstacles are the crosses that they should carry. Carrying the cross means we are willing to suffer for Christ. Being in the midst of so many pressures did not make the apostles deny their faith. They kept spreading the good news about Jesus. Moreover, they considered that suffering for Christ is an irreplaceable honor and they really rejoiced over it. The joy of the Lord enabled them to keep rejoicing while carrying the cross for Jesus and finally they could reap what they sowed.
A cross is a tool used by the Romans to execute criminals. A cross is a tool to torture the criminals because it will bring so much pain and delay the death as slowly as possible for the punished ones. The Romans were used to utilize the cross only to execute slaves or strangers. They had to carry the crosses from the court where they had their trials toward the place where they would be nailed on the cross. Because of the weight, the crosses required an endurance and extra strength to be carried.
The lesson is this: do not rejoice only when our conditions are good, and only when we feel comfortable, good, and everything goes smoothly. That will be the character of the spiritually immature. The spiritually mature ones are always be fulfilled with joy that comes from the God's, even though they are still carrying their crosses for Jesus. Like the apostles who could rejoice in their sufferings, we have to take them as a good example and put it into action in our life. Probably right now we are serving the Lord and many people mock and laugh at us, but remember, that is very light compared to what the apostles had experienced in the past. Ask Holy Spirit to give the ability for us to rejoice even in the worst condition.
REFLECTION Saudara Terkasih, TO HAVE JOY while CARRYING THE CROSS for Jesus is the sign of SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
APPLICATION 1. What will your reaction be when you experience unpleasable things while following Jesus? 2. Have you ever rejoiced in your sufferings? Why do you have to carry your cross for Jesus? 3. How can you stay rejoicing even though you have to carry the cross for Jesus?
TODAY'S PRAYER "Thank You, Lord Jesus, for pouring Your grace toward me. Thank You if You have allowed me to carry the cross. Teach me to rejoice because I desire to be mature in You. In the Name of Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen."
YEARLY BIBLE READING
Numbers 35-36
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