DEVOTIONS
​
Monday: This coming Sunday we will be in Mark 8:27-38 and seeing how to answer the tough questions. Jesus asks the disciples the most important question any human will ever answer: “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29). They’d seen miracles, heard teachings, watched compassion in action…yet Jesus pushes them beyond secondhand answers. God isn’t satisfied with what your parents believed, what your church believes, or what culture believes. He wants your answer. Christ looks us in the eye and asks, “Who am I to you?” Everything hinges on that response. Our identity, hope, and eternity rise or fall with that confession. Lord, help me answer Your question with honesty, conviction, and faith. Reveal Yourself to me today. In Jesus name, amen.
Tuesday: Peter declares, “You are the Messiah,”(v.29) but he still imagines a Messiah of comfort, victory, and earthly power. Jesus quickly corrects him by revealing a Messiah of suffering, sacrifice, and surrender. We often want a Jesus who fixes inconvenience, not a Savior who walks the road of pain. But the Messiah we want is not the Messiah we need. Jesus saves through the cross—not shortcuts. He confronts our expectations and reshapes them with truth. Lord, break my shallow expectations and teach me to embrace You as You truly are…not as I imagine You to be. Help me, Lord, Through Jesus, amen.
Wednesday: When Peter rebukes Jesus in Mark 8:32, he isn’t being hateful or disrespectful; he’s being human. He wants blessing without brokenness, triumph without trial. But Jesus responds firmly: “Get behind me, Satan!” Jesus rejects any path that avoids the cross. Sometimes Jesus says “no” to our prayers not to hurt us, but to keep us aligned with God’s greater purpose. Loving Jesus means trusting Him even when His direction doesn’t match our desires. Father, when Your way is harder than hoped, strengthen me to trust the wisdom of Your “no.” Keep my heart aligned in Your purpose. In Jesus, amen.
Thursday: Jesus lays it out: “If anyone wants to follow Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me (v.34).” Following Jesus ain’t about adding Him to our schedule—it’s about surrendering our schedule to Him. The cross isn’t a decoration; it’s a declaration that my life no longer belongs to me. Jesus promises that what feels like loss is actually gain. Lord, teach me to carry my cross in faith and humility. Turn selfishness into obedience. In Jesus, amen.
Friday: Jesus teaches a paradox: the more we cling to our lives, the more we lose; but the more we surrender to Him, the more we truly live. We chase success, comfort, approval…yet none of these can save us. Jesus asks, “What can anyone give in exchange for his soul?” The only life worth living is the one given fully to God. Real life begins where self-rule ends. God, free me from chasing what can’t satisfy. Help me lose my life in You so that I may gain true and eternal life. Explode KCC with self-less hearts to serve. In Jesus, amen.
Saturday: Jesus warns about being ashamed of Him in a world that constantly pressures us to be silent. The cross was public, painful, and humiliating, yet Jesus embraced it for us. Now He calls us to stand boldly for Him, even when it’s unpopular, uncomfortable, or inconvenient. We need followers who answer the tough questions with courageous faith, living unashamed for the Savior who wasn’t ashamed of the cross. Father, give me holy boldness to stand for You without fear. Let my life loudly declare I belong to You. In Jesus name, amen.
​