A cross to die on!

We have watered down ideas about what it means to take up our cross and follow Jesus, it is far more than we think, it is a command, not a suggestion.

Jesus told us that anyone who wants to follow Him must take up their cross and follow Him, you see a cross is meant to die in not carry around, when Jesus spoke this He is saying follow me to Calvary, die to your flesh, so you will live.

The things we bear daily in our flesh, whether it is sickness in our bodies, scars we bear from our choices, thorns we deal with as we are tormented in this world have nothing to do with the cross Jesus talks about when He says “ “And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”Matthew 10:38 

These maybe trials we face to strengthen our faith but they are not our crosses to bear, our cross we must take up voluntarily as Jesus did, for we must be willing to die to ourselves so we will live, God's grace is more than sufficient for us in our trials, He tells us to press on and trust Him. We don't die to our trials but we must die to our flesh.

We must die to our flesh, our will, our way, we must lay aside everything that would hinder us from following Jesus.

This is the unpopular part of the gospels, but yet Jesus spoke it, and did it, Jesus died to His Deity when He left Heaven's glory to come live as we do from birth to death, He died to His human nature when He resisted temptation from the devil, and when He asked God the Father to let this cup pass from Him, but nevertheless said thy will be done, Father.

We truly don't have an understanding of the cross as they did during the Roman Empire rule, the cross was not smooth planks, it was rough cut trees it wasn't something to be admonished it was made to create fear and dread, it was the final instrument of death as a form of punishment by the law and a warning to all who followed the one who hung upon it.

You would be beaten before you were hung because it was pleasure to the executioner, then you would carry your cross to the hill you would die on because it was a pleasure to the crowds,  and then you would be nailed to and hung naked upon the cross so you would die slowly, because it was pleasure to the soldiers who pursued death daily.

As they nail you to the cross the rough bark from the tree rips into your torn back and open wounds, as they drop your cross into the ground the nails and bark rip open your wounds more as your blood runs like water from your veins, as you hang there gasping for air, you pray to just die but you have no idea of the agony you will bear as you slowly painfully die alone.

These may just be words to you, but to me they are how my LORD and Savior Jesus died for me, to take my punishment for my sins on my cross so I don't have to die this way. 

But still he calls us to die, a different death, a daily death, a moment by moment death so we may live.

To live for Christ, we must die to ourselves.

Most want Jesus, but only the kind miracle-working Jesus who feeds them and heals them, not the hardline Jesus who says He is the only way, that we must endure to the end, that we must obey Him that we must take up our cross and follow Him.

We can't believe in Him only as Savior and not LORD, His word is clear, we must surrender to Him everything, we can't follow Him with our lips and walk away from Him in our lives.

Christ does not call us to die for Him, He calls us to live for Him, Christ does not call us to live as we want, He calls us to die to ourselves.

Have you died to yourself yet? Have you surrendered you're all on the cross Jesus called you to die on?

God's word says this:

“Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.” Matthew 10:32-39 CSB

“He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “ Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”Mark 14:33-36 CSB

“All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole company around him. They stripped him and dressed him in a scarlet robe. They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. And they knelt down before him and mocked him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they spat on him, took the staff, and kept hitting him on the head. After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced him to carry his cross. When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull), they gave him wine mixed with gall to drink. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it. After crucifying him, they divided his clothes by casting lots. Then they sat down and were guarding him there. Above his head they put up the charge against him in writing: This IS J ESUS, THE KING OF THE J EWS. Then two criminals were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” In the same way, the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him and said,”

Matthew 27:25-41 CSB

“If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others. Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead, he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross. For this reason, God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — in heaven and on earth and under the earth — and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:1-11 CSB

”I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 CSB

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”Matthew 19:26 CSB

Salvation or condemnation?

People choose to identify themselves by what they believe gives them power or clout, whether it is religiously, politically, their lifestyle or their race.

I choose to be identified only as a child of God.

In reality, we are all passing through this thing we call life, and it will soon be over for us all, eternity waits whether we believe in Christ as our LORD and Savior or not, for God's children we get to be with Him, where there will be no more tears, no fear, no pain or sorrow, there will be peace for evermore, for God's deniers they get to be without Him in eternal torment, darkness, tears, fear, bitterness.

Either way we choose where to go, why would anyone choose to deny Christ, is what I really want to know.

Christ did not come to us to condemn us, He came to us to save us, and make a way for us to God the Father, He bore our punishment so we would not go to hell!

God's word says this:

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”John 3:16-21 CSB

““Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.” “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”John 14:1-7 CSB

”Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars — their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.””

Revelation 21:3-8 CSB

The chains that bind us

Mankind is held in bondage by 3 things, sin, sorrow and death.

Jesus is the only key for freedom from this bondage.

He became sin for me!

He is the man of sorrows!

He holds the keys to death and hades!

Are you bound by sin today? Confess it to Christ, admit your a sinner; (we all are ) admit you need Him, ask Him to save you from your sin and separation from God the Father.

Are you bound by sorrow of past or present mistakes? Is your soul sorrowful because of others? Then call upon the name of Jesus ask for His peace, ask for forgiveness if need be,and Christ will set you free from the bondage of condemnation, He bore our sorrows and sin on the cross and took our punishment, 

Are you fearful of death? Or are you dying? We all will pass away from this life, unless the Lord comes first to take us home, but we need not fear death as a child of God death will only take us into His presence, Christ has overcome the grave and He is in you and you are in Him and He is over death and the grave.

God's word says;

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 NLT

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 CSB

“He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:3-5 NKJV

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look — I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18 CSB

“I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.””

Revelation 21:3-8 NLT

Are you trying to outrun God?

We can run from God, but this side of eternity we will never out run His grace, we can try and hide  from God but we will never escape His face, 

for the sinner God gives grace as He patiently waits for them to repent, for the saint God gives grace as He patiently waits for us to learn and walk with Him at His pace.

Our very existence proves God's grace, His love patience and mercy are in each breath He gives us, each one an opportunity to accept His gifts of salvation, mercy and grace, or to continue to walk in our ways and deny Him to His face.

This life soon shall pass and those who receive what God offers will have all that God has chosen to give, His all for eternity, those who reject what God offers will have what they chose for eternity, the absence of God where there will be outer darkness, torment, and gnashing of teeth.

Don't waste another breath, call upon the name of Jesus. Jesus have mercy on me a sinner, forgive me of my sins, cleanse me and make me whole, I need you to be my Lord and Savior, I believe you are the Son of God, you paid the price for my sins and I ask for forgiveness, mercy and grace and your help forever more.

If you're already saved but not walking with God, repent and turn from your ways, ask Christ to lead you in His everlasting way and walk in His grace and mercy.

Find a Bible Believing and Teaching Assembly that stands on the authority of God's word and start to grow in His grace and knowledge every day. 

God's word says this:

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time — to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him, we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will  so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens — far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.”

Ephesians 1:3-23 CSB

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:4-10 CSB

“For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us — to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:14-21 CSB

Are we duty bound or fully devoted to God?

As Christians we struggle with our works, am i doing enough, am I doing it right? If we become disciplined in the things of God we say I need to do these things, if we are bound by our duty we say we should do these things, but it is only when we are devoted to Christ that we finally understand and say I want to do these things and serve you Lord in all I do.

God doesn’t need us to be disciplined or duty bound in our walk with Him, no God does not want either of those, God looks at our hearts and when we become devoted to God our hearts say I want to walk with Him, God wants our devotion, when we become devoted to God in all we do, we become disciplined in the things of God and God works through an obedient heart.

Don’t let the enemy deceive you into a disciplined filled life, or a duty bound life, without a devoted life to Him, let the Holy Spirit lead you into a fully devoted life to Christ, see what God can do where we stop and He begins.

I think of the Apostle Paul, when he was bound by discipline and duty he went about killing christians and trying to destroy the church, but when he met Christ, he surrendered to Him,became fully devoted to Him and through him, Christ took the gospel message all the way to you and I today.

God has changed the world with men and women who are fully devoted to Him.

God’s word says this;

“May all the peoples of the earth know that the Lord is God. There is no other! Be wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord our God to walk in his statutes and to keep his commands, as it is today.””

1 Kings 8:60-61 CSB

“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:12-17 CSB

“For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, since, when we have taken it off, we will not be found naked. Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment. So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If one died for all, then all died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.” “From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:1-21 CSB

A constant state of motion

Life, a great gift from God to each of us , a constant state of motion that continues to keep us moving forward to the end no matter what our plans are, life can seem cruel, fast-paced, uneasy, frustrating, unfair, overwhelming or pleasant, good, perfect and trouble free ,  either way life is life and one day the life we now live will all come to an end, the secret to living is knowing that you are in the hands of God, and God is in control. 

We are given by God every opportunity to serve Him where He places us, the problem is we focus on us and not Him and we get stuck there instead of moving on.

God is always working in us, through us and for us, when we get stuck we are not in motion, God has great plans for each of us and His plans include our growth, spiritually. He is conforming us into the image of His Son, which is a forward motion,  not sideways or backward if you’re going backward or sideways know it is not what God has in store for us.

God places in us in different situations not so He can see how we will react, but that we will know that He is God, we can complain, fret or go with Him. 

None of us plan on getting sick, having cancer, being financially bankrupt, or having our lives come to a complete stop with the unexpected death of a loved one, but God is not surprised in any of these situations He is there with us.

When I put Christ above my comfort and convenience, I don't think of me or my problems I think of Him, and all He has done for me, is doing for me and what He will do which is see me through whatever comes my way. I have peace in Christ for He is my hope and salvation.

We can have peace in the midst of the storms of life knowing that God is for us  and that in His Hands we have nothing to fear, ever. This confidence is not in our flesh or circumstances but in God alone, we can rest assured in the promises of His word, and in the presence of His Holy Spirit. He is my confidence and strength, I pray He is yours.

The more time we spend in prayer the more time we spend with Him in His word and in fellowship with other believers, the more we see God working in the lives of us and others, God’s word says there is nowhere we can go to escape God’s presence. 

It is time we start living as if we are in the presence of God  because we are.

God’s word says this;

“You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God — not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such is the confidence we have through Christ before God. It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God. He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

For if what was set aside was glorious, what endures will be even more glorious. Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:3-6, 11-12, 17-18 CSB

“Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord. You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it. Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me.”

Psalms 139:1-10 CSB

“I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose.”

Philippians 1:6, 21-22 CSB

Born to serve

Spiritual leaders are not elected appointed or created by church assemblies or Christian universities.

God alone makes them,people do not become spiritual leaders by merely filling an office, or taking a college course or resolving in their own will to do it.

A person must qualify first to be a spiritual leader this means we must be humbled by God, we must submit to God, we must be seeking God first always.

Those called to leadership in God's kingdom, first learn leaders are servants, without a servants heart no one can be a leader.

Too many times we put our thoughts and our agenda above God's, thinking our way is the right way, I think of the story of the good Samaritan , he had no agenda, he was not distracted by business, he had compassion and mercy, he lifted up someone the world passed by and left for dead, he didn't think of himself, or the animosity between him and the man left for dead because of who they each were, or what was in it for him, he gave what he received, mercy, compassion and grace.

So many times we pass by those around us daily condemning them, or kicking them for their choices, walking around them instead of stopping and lifting them up and caring for them and loving them as Christ. 

True leaders seek God‘s kingdom first, they love God with all their heart mind and soul and love others as themselves.

Spiritual leader ship by definition requires the Holy Spirit to lead us ,as a chosen leader submits to the Holy Spirit the more power the Holy Spirit pours into them to reach others ,there is no such thing as a self made spiritual leader,  a true spiritual leader only influences others because the Holy Spirit is at work in their life and is working through them to build the kingdom of God.

God's word says this:

When a person’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 CSB

“Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.””

Luke 10:30-37 CSB

““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:3-12 CSB

“Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached him with her sons. She knelt down to ask him for something. “What do you want?” he asked her. “Promise,” she said to him, “that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” “We are able,” they said to him. He told them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right and left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten disciples heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

Matthew 20:20-28 CSB