June 24, 2018 MARK CHAPTER 8

Peter speaks to Jesus in a way that reveals a desire for self-preservation. He wanted Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom. Jesus' strong rebuke teaches His disciples about an upside down kingdom. King Jesus will lay everything down to reconcile us to God. He then calls us to lay everything down to show the freedom that comes from intimacy with God Himslef.
If we truly understand all that is ours in Christ, we won't hold tightly to what this world offers.
Are you pursuing things that you will eventually lose? Or are you giving your life to what will last? In the words of martyr Jim Elliot, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!"

Comments

  1. UnknownJune 26, 2018 at 6:03 AM

    In verse 34, Jesus says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Jesus didn't say that following Him is gonna be easy. It's not. But it's worth it! To deny yourself is like leaving in the past who you were before and embracing the new life that you have through Christ! And that's not easy. There are things to let go of, habits to break, and it's not easy. Before we know Jesus, we are in prison. Many times, we don't even realize that we are. But Jesus died to rescue us from that prison! How could we choose to stay there? Our enemy has made an effort to keep us in the prison. He gives us "good" things there to make us happy so that we don't want to leave. But happiness does not last. Jesus offers us a new life, out of that prison, to serve Him, and to have complete joy! Joy that will last!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts