DAILY DEVOTIONAL TODAY – April 5, 2025 || Our Daily Bread [Daily Devotion] | MamClaireTV

Devotional Message:
(Matthew 16:24)
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

Observation

Imagine you have a beautiful cake. You love it so much that you don’t want to share it. But then a friend comes and asks for a piece. You hesitate, thinking, “What if I don’t have enough left for myself?” So, you give a tiny crumb instead of a real piece.

Sometimes, that’s how we treat our relationship with Jesus. We say, “Lord, I want to follow You,” but we only give Him a little piece of our lives—our leftover time, energy, or attention. We hold back because we don’t want to sacrifice our comfort, dreams, or desires. But Jesus calls us to something greater.

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus tells us that following Him is not about giving just a little; it’s about giving our whole lives. He says we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. This means surrendering our own plans and trusting His will. It means putting Jesus first, even when it’s hard.

Jesus carried the cross for us. He gave up everything—even His life—so that we could be saved. Now, He calls us to do the same, not because He wants to take away our joy, but because He knows that true joy comes from a life fully surrendered to Him.

Application

1. Deny Yourself – This doesn’t mean you stop being yourself, but it means choosing God’s way over your own desires. It might mean forgiving someone even when you don’t feel like it, or saying no to something that pulls you away from God.

2. Take Up Your Cross – This means accepting challenges for the sake of Jesus. It could be standing up for what is right, even when others don’t agree. It might be sacrificing your time to help someone in need or being kind when others are not.

3. Follow Jesus – This is about walking in His footsteps every day. It’s not just about reading the Bible and praying (though those