Our scripture this morning is Mark 8:34-35.
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.”
Jesus teaches us that our first allegiance must be to God, not to ourselves or any earthly thing. When we try to do it alone, we fail. Only our repentance and acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice for us can make us right with God.
God has a plan for each of our lives and in order to live with Him eternally we must follow that plan, not our own. This is hard for us because we have free will to choose our actions. God doesn’t force us to do anything. However, we risk separation from His blessings when we go our own way.
Jesus tells us it may not be easy, but it will be worth the effort. In order to follow Him we must be ready to do as He did, laying down our lives for each other if necessary. His way is the one and only way for us to be saved.
Loving Lord, we are grateful for the gift of Your son, Jesus Christ our savior. Help us to die to self and live for You, sharing the Good News everywhere. Amen.
