Never forget his glory..

²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? ²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9


Talk about a verse that could make you uncomfortable. Talk about a verse not for the weak in faith...

Talk about a verse about real life. Each day we are to pick up our crosses and follow him. Daily...Everyday we will have a cross to bare as long as we are on this earth.As long as we are sinful humans waiting for our Saviors return. Jesus carried his...and all of ours all at once. 

"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose his soul?" (paraphrased) 

I am glad the chapter doesn't end there, but it is followed up in starting in verse 28 with the story of the transfiguration. Put yourself in the disciples place right now, Jesus your best friend, the person you walked away from family, friends, jobs for. He just told you he was going to die. Told you that if you wanted to live you might have to die too. That things are going to get worse before it will get better, they will be tested. 

Then follow the three disciples that probably mess up the most Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain to spend time with Jesus...the very man who just told them they might die if they live for him...

and watch as the glory of the Lord came upon him. A brightness to bright for men, a voice that made the Israelite s tremble and beg for Moses to go talk to God so that he doesn't speak to them again....A power that had been stilled for 600 years until a group of shepherds got to see it one still night...A power and a glory shining out from Jesus, the one you love as you stand on a mountain with him. One glimpse of what he has been trying to tell you he is for 33 years... 

Jesus does this though, think of the times in your life when you have felt the Lord with you...his peace is on you, you know he is there right now your skill tingles your heart skips...and multiply that by thousands...the hope it gives you the faith it rekindles...in the thick of a storm that indescribable peace... 

These disciples; about to be placed through the darkest times yet are given this gift to see Jesus in his glory and have something to hold too when Jesus is flogged, bleeding, and dying... Their Jesus, the savior they thought would rule on earth....

They didn't want to leave that mountain...that safe place just think how that must have felt how you feel when your in fellowship...when you aren't in the real world...how easy it is to never want to leave the safety of people that think and believe just as you do...and how that's the whole point to take in the word of The Lord so you can go I to a broken world and have something to give...

Remember the story, rehearse it again and again as the crosses in your life wear you down, as you want to give up, as you doubt, as your faith hangs on by a thread...remember the transfiguration remember the Resurrection...Remember Jesus in all God's glory walked the earth, bore your cross and loves you still.  

May these words, these stories give you enough for your daily cross...enough for your soul. Enough for the day.

Yes the journey to the cross is important to a follower of Christ but never forget the transfiguration  the Resurrection  the power and the glory that are his, forever and ever...

AMEN