Scripture:
Mark 8: 34 – 38 – And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it but, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? 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.”
Observation:
After rebuking Peter about His death and resurrection, Jesus tells the disciples that to follow Him requires self-denial. Those that submit everything to Jesus for the sake of the gospel will save their life. Conversely, those who try to hold on and save their life will actually lose it.
You can have everything in this world but not have salvation and eternal life in heaven. Jesus gives a stern warning that if you are ashamed of Him and the gospel message, He will be ashamed of you when He returns in His glory with the angels.
Application:
Only the love of the gospel has the power to change hearts and change lives. God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to pay for our sins so we can repent and be reconciled to Him eternally. As a follower of Christ, I have to realize my own inadequacy and impurity that is only made right and pure through the cross. As such, I must submit all things small and large in all aspects of my life to come under Jesus. I heard it said this way:
I must be under that which is to be over me
To be over that which is to be under me
As I walk with Christ, I pray that I follow His will and not my own. The love of the gospel is the most powerful thing in the world and Paul tells us in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Prayer:
Father,
Thank you for your loving me so much that you sent Jesus to pay for my sin debt in full. Let the power of the love of the gospel continue to change me daily. May I submit all things to you, live unashamed of the gospel and share your love and truth will all.