God's Love and Our Response

Not everyone called by Jesus to be his disciple chooses to follow him. The account of one who choose not to follow in Luke 18:18-25. The good news sometimes challenges us. On the one hand, we discover that God loves us no matter who we are or what we have done in our lives. On the other hand, we discover that the gospel places demands on us. We are asked to take up our cross and follow in Jesus footstep (Luke9: 23) "then Jesus said to all the people: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me."

What does it mean to take up your cross? It means to have faith and patience when you are injured or are recovering from an illness. It means living in a way that prepares you to respond to the challenges of a typical day. Taking up your cross means looking beyond what you need or want in order to discover what others need. It means being loving and responsible when others in your family are going through a difficult time. It may mean working with others to improve someone's living conditions. Whatever you follow in Jesus footsteps, you can be certain that God will strengthen you to face the challenges you meet.

Let's Pray: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and our brother, thank you for calling us to be your disciples. Help us grow in our dedication to you, and help us seek the reign of God in our lives. Amen.

Your Dear Brother in Christ

Mike Williams

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