![]() ![]() ![]() It is also available in print, for purchase, at .  .ĭaily devotional March 13 - Preparing with mercy Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. Pray for grace to respond affirmatively to Jesus' call to follow Him. Ask for wisdom to deal with life as a disciple who willingly takes up the cross. Seek the guidance of the Lord and His strength to learn self-denial. Find sweet fellowship with the Saviour as you learn more and more to deny yourself and to take up your cross daily. As we look ahead to Good Friday and Easter, and consider our path this week, let us be spiritually prepared. It is a decision that requires the other two steps: self-denial and taking up the cross. To respond to that call in covenant obedience is the most important decision we will ever make in our earthly life. In our text we also see the Gospel call of Jesus: Come, follow me! It is a call to a meaningful life, a call to service, and to experience the love of the Lord. We take up our cross because it causes us to come to the Lord casting our burdens and cares upon Him. It means enduring physical pain, sorrow, or stress. We are not earning salvation, rather this is the Lord's call to costly discipleship. For us, taking up our cross is different. Jesus' one atoning sacrifice on the cross is unique, unrepeatable. Do you see a pattern of you saying NO to sin? Discipleship has a price and a vital part of the price is denying yourself.Ī further needed step is taking up your cross daily. We are called to say NO to sin and Satan. Self-denial requires the use of the word NO. If Jesus really comes first in your life, then you must deny yourself. €œIf anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.†- Luke 9:23Ī basic step in discipleship is self-denial.  Âĭaily devotional March 14 - Preparing by denying, taking up, and following It is also available in print, for purchase, at. Pray that your Sunday will truly be the Lord's Day, as you worship with fellow believers in a church that steadfastly continues in all of the apostles' doctrine. Personal and public prayers are vital to a rich, vibrant spiritual life. It is a privilege to share a prayer time with fellow Christians in God's House. If you have an opportunity to partake of the Lord's Supper this Sunday, do so well-prepared and in good conscience. How is the walk of your discipleship when it comes to fellowship? The church is the family of God and to cut yourself off from that family is a major step toward spiritual disaster. ![]() Sharing in the full life of a Christian community is vitally important for spiritual life and growth. That is needful for any group to be a true church of Jesus Christ as well. A true Christian's calling is to continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, all of it. Do you truly believe what the Bible says? Does the church you attend faithfully adhere to the teachings of Scripture? Some, with the name of church, openly deny the authority of Scripture. The first mark is “ they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine.†Our calling as Christians is to be faithful to the truth of God's Word. As you do so, you should see in yourself and in the church that you attend, four characteristics that are described in our text and were clearly seen in the gatherings of the first Christians in Jerusalem. €œ And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.†- Acts 2:42 ![]()
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