“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” - 1 Peter 2:24 CSBHere is where we have to keep the gospel clear. Because a devotional series on taking up your cross can easily get twisted in the wrong direction.We can hear “deny yourself,” “take up your cross daily,” and “follow me,” and start t...  Read More

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20 CSBThere comes a point where we have to stop calling disobedience by softer names.That is uncomfortable. Because most of us do not usually say, “I am resisting Jesus.” We say things that sound m...  Read More

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” - Galatians 5:24 CSBThe hard part about daily cross-bearing is that the old you does not stay quiet. That is why Jesus said daily. Not because His grace expires overnight. Not because His mercy runs out by morning. Not because your salvation resets every day. He said daily because the old self shows up d...  Read More

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.” - 1 Corinthians 1:18 CSBOne of the hardest parts of following Jesus is learning that obedience will not always look like winning. That matters. Because we have been trained by the world to measure victory in very specific ways.Victory looks like being respected.Victory looks...  Read More

“Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.’” - Luke 9:23 CSBLet’s be honest. Most of us like the idea of following Jesus until following Jesus starts costing us something.We like the peace.We like the forgiveness.We like the comfort of knowing God is near.We like the songs, the encouragement, the community, the hope...  Read More

“Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.’” - Luke 9:23 CSBThe danger with a devotional series like this is that we can agree with all of it and still obey none of it. That is worth saying out loud. Because spiritual agreement can feel like obedience when it is not. You can read about surrender and think, “That’s t...  Read More