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The One Year New Testament

April 16

Mark 8:34-38

Mark 8:34-38

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Reflection

Jesus calls his disciples to let go of self-reliance and the interests of this temporary world in order to follow him. This radical call is fueled by the gospel, in which we learn that all our sins are forgiven and that we are reconciled to God through faith in Christ. Once equipped with God’s grace, the disciple can willingly surrender decisions, wishes, and dreams to God’s plan for his or her life. But we can do this joyfully, because the One to whom we surrender is good, trustworthy, wise, and powerful. The Master loves his followers and will strengthen us to be faithful.

2 Corinthians 9:1-5

2 Corinthians 9:1-5

Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.

Reflection

Paul is preparing the Corinthians for the opportunity to provide a financial gift for other Christians who are in a time of need (2 Cor. 8:14). He does not want the Corinthians to be humiliated by their failure to help out as they had promised, so he is sending a team to help the church make arrangements for the gift (9:4–5).

Paul is not interested in forcing the Corinthians to give to others. He wants them to give willingly (v. 5). Rather than giving to the needy out of obligation, we should offer our help eagerly, in response to God’s generosity toward us in the gospel.

Psalm 103:19

Psalm 103:19

19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.

Thoughts For Prayer

It is important to surrender ourselves to God’s rule over our lives, relying on him rather than ourselves. Ask God to help you surrender anything in your life that you are trying to keep under your own control.

Missions Prayer Requests More

  • April 16, 2025

    Supported Workers: E & J in North Africa

    Countries:

    In March, one of the elders at the local fellowship was installed as the lead pastor. Praise God for the sweet celebrations and pray that their brothers and sisters would have a deeper appreciation for the bride of Christ. Keep praying that God will open a door for E and J to have a long-term, legitimate presence in their country of service for his sake.

    Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) (Africa). Population: 1,222,075 Believers: 25.1%. Eswatini is the last absolute monarchy in sub-Saharan Africa. Around 25% of the workforce is unemployed, while the economic situation continues to decline. The constitution banned political parties, and the lack of democracy and human rights suppress change and makes positive progress very difficult. Pray that the king might see his position not as a privilege but as a responsibility to serve his people and his land. Pray that Christians might be at the heart of grassroots movements that care for the neediest in Eswatini. From Operation World DVD-ROM 2010 and www.operationworld.org

The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.