November 1
Scripture of the day: "And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, 'Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's.' And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.'" Mark 8:31-34
Thought of the day: Peter rebuked Jesus for teaching that He would suffer, be rejected, die, and rise again. Then Jesus strongly rebuked Peter for setting his mind on the interests of man rather than the interests of God. His words "Get behind Me, Satan" must have been so difficult for Peter to hear. Then Jesus told the crowd and the disciples that following Him was at a cost ... the cost of denying self and taking up a cross.
Challenge of the day: Following Jesus will not lead us down an easy road. Paul wrote that we are earthen vessels which are afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down ... and that we are always carrying about the dying of Jesus in our bodies, 2 Corinthians 4:7-10. The resurrection life of Jesus is more visible when displayed through broken earthen vessels. Don't believe those who teach that following Jesus is the easy way to comfort, health, and wealth in this life. It is not! Take up your cross and share in the suffering of Christ. Should Jesus rebuke you as He rebuked Peter? Or have you set your mind on God's interests above your own?
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