A DISCIPLINED LIFE
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Mark 8:34-38 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
In our passage today Jesus is teaching about discipleship. He lets us know there is price tag associated with being a disciple of Jesus. We should note this is not a teaching on how to be saved. The disciples were already followers of Christ. This was a teaching on discipleship—what it means to be fully committed to following Jesus. Satan offers man glory without suffering. But it is a lie because there will be suffering for eternity. God offers us suffering that is transformed into glory. This suffering is the price tags for true discipleship. In a culture that thrives on comfort it is sometimes difficult to convince people that suffering is part of God’s plan for our lives. We understand this when it comes to health, wealth, or even relationships. If we want to be healthy, we must deny ourselves unhealthy foods and force our bodies to endure discipline through exercise. If we want to have wealth, we must establish a budget, avoid unnecessary spending, and put money aside for savings. If we want to have healthy relationships, we must take the time to invest in relationships and have honest conversations. Jesus teaches us the end goal is not self-discipline for the sake of personal devotion. The goal is practical duty—we are to be people who share the message of Christ with a lost world. Choosing a disciplined life is choosing the invest our life instead of wasting our life. Choosing to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us to impact our world with the love of Jesus. Let’s accept the fact we may have times of discomfort, loneliness, and even pain. But that is not the end goal. The goal is to see a lost world come to know the love of Jesus.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please help me to see the world through Your eyes. Help me to be willing to accept the cross as part of my daily life. Help me to accept the suffering, rejection, and pain to see a lost world come to know Jesus.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”