The Father's Menu
Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh
Monday, August 26, 2024
GIVE YOUR LIFE
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:26-27
Main Text: Main Text: Luke 9:23
Do not be concerned for your life when it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many, especially young people, desire to serve the Lord wholeheartedly but are held back by their parents, friends, or the cares of this life. Jesus said that anyone who wants to be His disciple—not an Apostle, Prophet, or Pastor—must bear their cross. The call to follow Jesus is not an easy one, and as believers, we must be ready to lose our lives for the sole purpose of serving the Lord.
You must reject the cares of this world because they will distract you from following the Lord wholeheartedly. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ means giving your life for the advancement of the gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. To fulfill the Great Commission, we must be prepared to suffer, sacrifice, lose, deny ourselves, and even die to self. The true blessing of Christianity is found in the art of suffering, losing, denying, and dying to self.
The cross holds different meanings for different people, but whatever it signifies to us, we must be ready to carry it. Jesus calls us to carry our cross daily, even if it means losing friends, family, or finances. However, in what we seem to lose, we gain Christ. Our mindset should be, "I'd rather gain Christ than all the riches of this world."
Confession:
In the Name of Jesus, I boldly declare, I willingly lay down my life for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. My life is not my own; it belongs to the Lord. I am committed to the spread of the good news, and I will sacrifice whatever is necessary to see God’s Kingdom advance. My life is a living sacrifice, dedicated to honoring God in all that I do. In my thoughts, words, and actions, I strive to bring glory to His Name. I choose to live in a way that reflects His love, grace, and truth, making my life a testimony of His goodness.
Further Reading:
Mark 10:28-30 “Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
Mark 8:34 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Read through the bible in 1 year: Job 20:1-22:30 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 Psalm 40:11-17 Proverbs 22:2-4
Read through the bible in 2 years: Catch-up day & Ps 52
