Matthew 16:24-27
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
What do I want? Do I want fame and wealth and pleasure? Or do I want to follow God no matter the cost? Jesus issues a strong challenge to us
in these verses: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (verse 24). Too often we are focused solely on "getting ahead", on gaining the world (verse 26), at the cost of losing what is most important. What if I were to be like Hugh Hefner and spend my life surrounded by playboy bunnies? Would it be worth it if I miss knowing Jesus? Jesus warns against one who "gains the whole world and forfeits his soul" (verse 26). We have to make a choice about what is really most important to us, for following Jesus will mean denying our selfish desires and submitting to His will.
Lord, help me to take up my cross and follow You.
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
What do I want? Do I want fame and wealth and pleasure? Or do I want to follow God no matter the cost? Jesus issues a strong challenge to us
in these verses: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (verse 24). Too often we are focused solely on "getting ahead", on gaining the world (verse 26), at the cost of losing what is most important. What if I were to be like Hugh Hefner and spend my life surrounded by playboy bunnies? Would it be worth it if I miss knowing Jesus? Jesus warns against one who "gains the whole world and forfeits his soul" (verse 26). We have to make a choice about what is really most important to us, for following Jesus will mean denying our selfish desires and submitting to His will.
Lord, help me to take up my cross and follow You.