The Pilgrim Path---Luke 9: 23 – 26

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

“…LET HIM DENY HIMSELF”

The LORD Jesus calls His People to His cross-bearing path. It is against our nature. Only the blessed Holy Spirit can so illuminate your mind and transform your heart as to accept it as final reality. Yet---losing your life in HIM is living---for all eternity. All other realms of understanding are merely existence---which eventually lead to everlasting destruction.

A sobering call is issued by the LORD Jesus to daily self-denial and daily cross-bearing. There is no doubt that His followers are to become captive to---and eventually “delighted in” conscious awareness of “all” of live before HIM. No one else can “do” this for me. No one else may “do” this for You. It is daily discipleship. Ask the Sweet Spirit of God to sustain and strengthen you. Learn not to blame others for your attitude and your demeanor. This is your responsibility---you belong to the LORD Jesus Christ. Walk on…Live on for the Shepherd of Souls by the power of the Holy Spirit.

From John Duncan: The summons to let your nature, whatever it may be, get free play, with all its corrupted instincts, is a summons to pandemonium.

From Richard Baxter: Resolve, therefore, that whatever company, pleasure, or business would divert you, that you will not be fooled out of your salvation. If company plead an interest in you, ask if it is better company than the Spirit of God; if pleasure would detain you, inquire whether it is more pure and durable pleasure than you will have in heaven; if business pretend necessity, inquire whether it is greater business than to prepare your soul for judgment. If you are wise, let stand all other things, and do what is first in importance.

Meanwhile on the other side of the world:

---According to the United Nations 10 million Ukrainians have been displaced inside their country or have fled as refugees to other nations since Putin began his war criminal endeavors…

---Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaking at the Conservative Party Spring Conference in Blackpool, called Putin’s ideas about the “unity” of Russia and Ukraine “semi-mystical guff” and “Nostradamus meets Russian Wikipedia.” He went on to say Putin is, “frightened of Ukraine because in Ukraine they have a free press and in Ukraine they have free elections.”

---The Mayor of Mariupol (Ukraine) Vadym Boychenko---estimated over 80% of residential buildings had been damaged or destroyed---a third---beyond repair…(Reuters / Sky News).

---“If we see Ukraine as a threat, we have the right to use force to ensure the threat is eradicated” Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill (Daily Beast / spiritdaily.org). My—My…He leads a global church with over 150 million members…

---On Tuesday, Ukrainian troops forced Russian forces “out” of the Kyiv suburb of Makariv after a fierce battle---allowing Ukrainian forces to retake control of a key highway--- and block Russian troops from surrounding Kyiv from the northwest (Associated Press).

---Great Britain is providing 25 million pounds---from the Foreign Office’s Conflict & Security and Stabilization Fund---to help pay the salaries of Ukrainian soldiers and pilots (Sky News).

---Dal & Beth Stanton work dutifully with the MTW Crisis Response Team in Krakow, Poland. Pray for “all” of them---the days are long and busy! The goal now is to raise $ 4 million dollars---So far--- 2.7 million has come in! Thanks be to God!

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10: 39

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason