Starting with last Friday, this week (Friday to Friday) is the week of retreats. As such, I decided to change things up for this week of devotions. Rather than publishing two full devotions this week, and rather than publishing two previously written devotions, I have decided to publish two scriptures and a couple of reflective questions. Read the Scripture, more than once even, and ponder the questions that are asked in regard it. If you are reading this on lifegivingwaterdevo.org, feel free to comment with your answers and/or reflective thoughts. If you are reading this in print somewhere, or on some other site that is publishing it, then perhaps write your answers and/or reflective thoughts on paper and save them to look back upon.
Next week, I will write two brand new devotions based off of the two Scripture passages and the reflective questions being asked.
Today’s Scripture:
Mark 8:34-38
- What does Jesus mean when he says, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves…”?
- What did it mean for people in Jesus’ day to pick up their crosses? What does it mean for you to pick up your cross?
- What does Jesus mean by “those who are ashamed of me and my words” and why does Jesus call his generation “adulterous and sinful”?
- Do you feel uneasy by Jesus’ words in this passage? If so, why does it challenge you? If not, why doesn’t it?
Look for next Wednesday’s devotion in order to see the full devotion on Mark 8:34-38.