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Scripture: Mark 8:34 - 9:1 (alternate reading: Matthew 16:13-19)
34 And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man 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; and 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 life? 37 For what can a man give in return for his life? 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." 1 And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power."
Meditation: What is the most important investment you can make with your life? Jesus poses some probing questions to challenge our assumptions about what is most profitable and worthwhile. In every decision of life we are making ourselves a certain kind of person. The kind of person we are, our character, determines to a large extent the kind of future we will face and live. It is possible that some can gain all the things they set their heart on, only to wake up suddenly and discover that they missed the most important things of all. Of what value are material things if they don't help you gain what truly lasts in eternity. Neither money nor possessions can buy heaven, mend a broken heart, or cheer a lonely person.
God gives without measure - we give all we have in return
Jesus asks the question: What will a person give in exchange
for his life? Everything we have is an out-right gift from
God. We owe him everything, including our very lives. It's
possible to give God our money, but not ourselves, or to give him
lip-service, but not our hearts. A true disciple gladly gives up
all that he or she has in exchange for an unending life of joy and
happiness with God. God gives without measure. The joy he offers
no sadness or loss can diminish.
The cross of Christ leads to victory and freedom from sin and death. What is the cross which Jesus Christ commands me to take up each day? When my will crosses with his will, then his will must be done. To know the Lord Jesus Christ is to know the power of his saving death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit gives us the gift of faith to know Jesus personally, power to live the gospel faithfully, and courage to witness to others the joy and truth of the gospel. Are you ready to lose all for Jesus Christ in order to gain all with Jesus Christ?
"Lord Jesus Christ, I want to follow you as your disciple. I gladly offer all that I have to you. Take and use my life as a pleasing sacrifice of praise to your glory."Psalm 112:1-6
1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who
fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his
commandments!
2 His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of
the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house; and his righteousness
endures for ever.
4 Light rises in the darkness for the upright; the LORD is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who
conducts his affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered for
ever.
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Would you follow Christ?, by Caesarius of Arles, 470-542 A.D.
"When the Lord tells us in the Gospel that anyone
who wants to be his follower must renounce himself, the injunction
seems harsh; we think he is imposing a burden on us (Matthew
16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). But an order is no burden when it is
given by one who helps in carrying it out. To what place are we to
follow Christ if not where he has already gone? We know that he
has risen and ascended into heaven; there, then, we must follow
him. There is no cause for despair - by ourselves we can do
nothing, but we have Christ’s promise...
"One who claims to abide in Christ ought to walk as
he walked. Would you follow Christ? Then be humble as he was
humble. Do not scorn his lowliness if you want to reach his
exaltation. Human sin made the road rough. Christ’s resurrection
leveled it. By passing over it himself, he transformed the
narrowest of tracks into a royal highway. Two feet are needed to
run along this highway; they are humility and charity. Everyone
wants to get to the top - well, the first step to take is
humility. Why take strides that are too big for you - do you want
to fall instead of going up? Begin with the first step, humility,
and you will already be climbing." (excerpt from SERMONS
159, 1.4–6)
Scripture
quotations from Common
Bible: Revised Standard
Version of the Bible,
copyright 1973, and Ignatius
Edition of the Revised
Standard Version of the
Bible, copyright 2006, by
the Division of Christian
Education of the National
Council of the Churches of
Christ in the United States
of America. Used by
permission. All rights
reserved. Citation
references for quotes from
the writings of the early
church fathers can be found
here.
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