Saturday Devotional
In our theme verses of Matthew 16:24-26 and its context, we get a lot of focus on what we should do. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Those are four different active verbs, all concerning our own actions. There is a hugeemphasis on our own works. And those are all good, and important to reflect on. Many of today’s breakout sessions will cover different ways in which these commands work out in our lives!
However, that’s only half of the picture. It’s equally important to have a foundation of Jesus Christ himself. It is not only out of our own strength that we’re hefting this cross over our shoulder and trudging through the dirt. Jesus also says that those who “labor and are heavy laden” should come to him and he “will give you rest.” “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
How can these both be true? How can the act of coming to Jesus both involve carrying anancient torture device (a cross) and be restful for our souls? In other words, how does this relationship with Jesus actually work?
Even if you know already, it’s good to return to the basics. Even if you’re very familiar with this passage, pray that you would read it with fresh ears and appreciate the great ways in which God works. Read Ephesians 2:1-10 and reflect on the following questions:
The first three verses are a description of the state every human is in before coming to faith in Jesus. If you are a Christian, why did you turn away from this to follow Jesus?
Verses 4-7 describe the action God takes toward us. “Mercy” is the act of not giving punishment to someone, even though that person deserves it. “Grace” is something that a person receives but they haven’t done anything to deserve (like a gift). Do you think that God has shown any part of “the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness” to you?
Verses 8-10 contain a simple statement of the gospel. To have “faith” is to trust something or someone even when you can’t completely verify it’s true (e.g., “I have faith that you can finish in time!”). It is not because of anything we’ve done, good or bad, that God accepts us! It is only because of his love and choosing us that we are his. Pray briefly in response to this truth.
This is why coming to Christ brings us rest! In a world without Christ, we have to work hard to be accepted by others. In order to be accepted into a school I’d like to go to, I need to work for good grades. In order to be accepted by a group, I need to work to match their humor, style, and so on (or, in a better situation, at least I have to put in relational effort to become friends with them). Once I’ve graduated, in order to earn a living and not lose my job, I have to work to keep up with what my boss and company need. Thank God that our most fundamental relationship does not require this of us! —Because Jesus loves us even before we’re able to work at all!
Still, even in our breakout sessions today, we will probably communicate the importance of self-discipline and work to grow closer to Jesus. Large parts of the Bible are dedicated sections of commands that we, Christians, are supposed to follow. This is not a contradiction—it isn’t that God just lures us in with promises of “grace” and “hope,” only to make us robotic workers for him. To the contrary, this relationship with Jesus “re-creates” us, so that we have a new and better purpose than we could possibly have from our own efforts.
Reread verses 8-10 again, and note the dynamic of work and gifts.
It is not by working hard that we’re saved. This is very clear: “by grace you have been saved ...not [as] a result of works.” However, verse 10 still describes us as being “created in Christ Jesus for good works.” This creation, where God re-works us into something new, is brought about because of our right standing with God; it is not what brings about our right standing with God. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17)—this is maybe a familiar verse, but often we forget that right after, Paul says, “All this is from God” (v. 18). God is the only person involved in making the new creation; our efforts are not needed!
This is where Matthew 16:24-26, our theme verses for the weekend, come in again. There are specific things God prepared, from eternity past, for you to do in faith! To deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus are ways among those to be obedient to him. Jesus brings us rest—if we have faith, our relationship with him is secure forever, and we do not need to work for anyone’s acceptance! Yet at the same time, he gives us new purpose and drives us toward amazing deeds, by his power which is with us! What an incredible way to live, both following Jesus and with his Spirit within us!
Reflect on your semester so far. Moving forward in faith, what “good works” do you think God has been preparing you for? For example, how have you changed since last semester? Can you observe different fruit of God’s Spirit in yourself? Are your felt passions different?
Are there any people whom you have had more interactions with this semester, whom you should be trying to share the hope of the gospel with?
Spend some time praying for those people, and your own growth in the Spirit.
Pray again, remembering what God has done to bring you into his family. Other passages to help reflect on this include John 13; Rom. 5; Phil. 2; or the rest of Eph. 2.