Reading: Matthew 16:13-28, Acts 23:1-11, Psalm 37:23-40, Exodus 38-40

Recall:
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For 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? Matthew 16:24-26

I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
They are ever giving liberally and lending,
and their children become a blessing. Psalm 37:25-26

Reflect:
Powerful paragraph from Matthew! Jesus said the gates of Hades itself will not be able to hold out the church. Now that is bold. But it definitely is not a descriptor for the church that I see now. What are we as the church, what am I as a follower of Christ, willing to risk to play a part in what God will accomplish through God's church?

I had never read this Psalm before, but what a wonderful testimony it is to God's provision, a powerful idea that should at least be experimented with.

Respond:
God, I want to be bold. I want to risk. I don't know that I'm willing to lose it all. But I'm willing to let you gently (I know, I'm such a wimp) start to strip what is not necessary, what is keeping me from following you and leading my church to do the same.