Bearing my cross

 

Christ taught that His followers would be persecuted (Luke 14). Although many Christians do suffer for their faith, many more simply hide behind the cross of persecution when they receive criticism from non-Christians. Can you think of a time when you received deserved critique but mistook it for persecution?

Jesus the great divider

 

When the religious leaders met Jesus, they understood the divisiveness of His teachings. Although we are called to humility and peace, we should be aware that many will take offense (Luke 12) at the idea of humbling themselves and caring for the vulnerable. Are you willing to let Christ divide you from your own pride and greed?

Jesus the divider

Jesus startled His audience when He declared that He had come to divide rather than unite (Luke 12). Although we tend to think of the division between believers in Jesus versus non-believers, we should consider how much division Christ's teachings seem to cause within the Church itself. What issues do you feel are more important than loving your fellow believers? Are they really teachings directly from Jesus?

Giving God a little 'help'

 Although Abraham came to be a model of faith, he wasn't always ready to believe God. In Genesis 15, we learn that Abraham interpreted God's promise of an heir loosely and applied his own solution by sleeping with a servant. God rejected Abraham's solution and promised that an heir was coming, and Abraham finally believed God in spite of the unlikeliness that he would have a son with Sarah. 

Who can you pray with?

 

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, there was an community as well as personal aspect (Luke 11). While Christians can pray alone and have a personal relationship with Christ, we should remember that Jesus also taught us to spend time being vulnerable with one another in the act of prayer. Who do you trust enough to spend time praying with?

Where does your help come from?

 Psalm 121 reminds us that our help doesn't come from false gods on hills or from any other power. Our help and our hope resides in God alone. Can you think of people or things God provided to you in your times of need? Are you trusting the aids God has given, or are you trusting the God who provided?

Pray Awesome!

 When Jesus taught His disciples to pray (Luke 11), the emphasis seemed to be on God's greatness. Even in asking for daily bread, the emphasis wasn't on the need but on the great God who would provide. Do your prayers make much of God, or do you find yourself reading God your opinions as a wish list?