Matthew 16:21-28 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 16:21-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 21From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. Verse 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." Verse 23But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
Verse 24Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Verse 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. Verse 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? Verse 27"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Verse 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Devotion
What could be worse than losing your life, you may wonder? Have you ever thought of that question for yourself? In Matthew 16, Jesus suggests that we may very well lose our lives as a result of following him. So, what would be worse than losing our lives? Losing hope. Without hope, we die. But, with hope we live; we grow stronger; we find joy in the most unusual places. I hope you know God’s powerful hope. Nothing can happen to you that can fling you so far off your life course that God can’t find you.
Whether you have been through such a struggle or whether one awaits you, whatever it is, the greatest tool we have been given to survive the threat of despair is the gift of hope - hope in God; hope in his power to strengthen and his power to save.
Prayer
Mighty Lord, thank you for your most precious gift of hope. Amen.