Take Up Your Cross
Mark 8
 |
| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 34-38) "...'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
My Thoughts
What does Jesus mean when He says for us to deny ourselves and take up our cross? To follow Him is obvious, but to deny ourselves is a bit less. What that means is to deny ourselves what we want, how we want to live and the like. To take up our cross is basically to sacrifice ourselves for Jesus, just as He did for us when He died on the cross.
That seems a bit harsh, doesn't it? To deny ourselves how we want to live and the things that we want. In reality, it isn't that bad. It just means that we need to live the way that God wants us to, in a way that honors Him. That isn't so hard is it? You are not required to give up everything you have or everything that you want. All you have to do is not dwell on those things.
Don't let material things, like money, control you. Hold onto your possessions with an open hand. If you hold onto these things too tightly, you won't be able to hold onto God. Don't be stingy or selfish with your stuff either. If you have something that you really don't need anymore, and someone else needs it, I am sure that you can spare it. Everything we have is given to us by God for us to enjoy, but not for us to worship.
Take up your cross. Be willing to sacrifice your life for Jesus. We may not literally die for Him, but we do need to be willing to do so. There are people in certain parts of the world today where followers of Christ are dying for their faith, and I pray that you would protect and deliver your people from their enemies, Father God.
Has anyone ever told you that they would die for you, or have you ever told someone that? I'm sure you have at least heard that before. Jesus didn't say that. Jesus did that. He actually did die for each and every one of us. If we want to truly follow Him, we need to sacrifice ourselves for Him. I want to live all out for Jesus because without Him, nothing has meaning. That is how I feel and that is what I will strive for every day.
Previous PostNext Post
That seems a bit harsh, doesn't it? To deny ourselves how we want to live and the things that we want. In reality, it isn't that bad. It just means that we need to live the way that God wants us to, in a way that honors Him. That isn't so hard is it? You are not required to give up everything you have or everything that you want. All you have to do is not dwell on those things.
Don't let material things, like money, control you. Hold onto your possessions with an open hand. If you hold onto these things too tightly, you won't be able to hold onto God. Don't be stingy or selfish with your stuff either. If you have something that you really don't need anymore, and someone else needs it, I am sure that you can spare it. Everything we have is given to us by God for us to enjoy, but not for us to worship.
Take up your cross. Be willing to sacrifice your life for Jesus. We may not literally die for Him, but we do need to be willing to do so. There are people in certain parts of the world today where followers of Christ are dying for their faith, and I pray that you would protect and deliver your people from their enemies, Father God.
Has anyone ever told you that they would die for you, or have you ever told someone that? I'm sure you have at least heard that before. Jesus didn't say that. Jesus did that. He actually did die for each and every one of us. If we want to truly follow Him, we need to sacrifice ourselves for Him. I want to live all out for Jesus because without Him, nothing has meaning. That is how I feel and that is what I will strive for every day.
Previous PostNext Post
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
No comments :
Post a Comment
Please be respectful and do not comment anything that is hateful, hurtful or illegal. Thank you!