Focus: The cross reminds us of the shame and suffering of Jesus. People were shamed and put to death defending the cross. Every generation has had its persecutions. The cross has not fallen. The cross has remained strong, even though people have been burned on the cross. We sing about the cross. The songs set a fire in our hearts. “Take up thy cross the Savior said, if thou would my disciple be; deny thyself, the world forsake, and humbly follow after me.” (415 The United Methodist Hymnal) To take up the cross of Jesus means to live and treat people like Jesus did. The cross does not make us popular. We are not called to be popular; we are called to be like Jesus. The cross we carry is to love as Jesus loves. That means we love not only the easy to love but the uneasy to love.
Prayer: Almighty God, may we walk in love. May we learn to love you more by loving others? Set before us the unlovable and take us to new places in You. Amen
Read: 1 Peter 5:1-5 ESV
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Meditation: Who are the hurt and lonely people around you? What would happen if you began to pray to love people more? What would it look like to ask God to give you a person to befriend? Would you humbly accept the assignment?
Benediction: “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Chris to whom be glory forever and ever.” Amen
