Tag Archive for Mark 8:34

When Loss Is Gain

2015-02-15 Devotional with Hymn No comments

Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me,
he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel
will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35, NIV)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy set before him
endured the cross, scorning its shame, and
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
(Hebrews 12:2-3, NIV)

Jesus calls all His followers to sacrifice themselves
as He sacrificed Himself.

He laid down His life “for the joy set before him”.
He freely submitted to the cross, “scorning its shame”;
that is, He viewed the shame of the cross as insignificant,
unworthy of consideration.

He modeled this definition of sacrifice:
to turn loose of something good
in order to grasp something greater.
This is the sacrifice to which our Lord calls us.

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Lay Aside Your Passing Pleasures
Recording
Printed Music & Lyrics

Follow Jesus

2015-01-18 Devotional with Hymn No comments

We hear no smooth-talking persuasion from Jesus. He describes the path ahead of us clearly and plainly:

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and
follow me.” (Mark 8:34, NIV)

Who would want to follow Jesus straight into His storm of suffering?

But look at Him. See the person He is and the way He lives. He has experienced all that we have, and so much more. Yet see His peace, His patience, His sufficiency in every situation. See His deep, constant relationship with the Father. See His love, never fearful and never strained.

I want to follow Him. I want to finally lay down this perpetual burden of petty self-concern. I want to pick up my cross and go with Him wherever He goes. I am held captive by the magnificence of Jesus Christ.

“I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him…I want to know Christ…and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” (Philippians 3:8-9, 10, NIV)

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Come See Our God
Recording
Printed Music & Lyrics

Denying Myself

2014-02-04 Devotional No comments

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34, NIV)

“Jesus, I lay aside my self-concern.
Lead, and I will follow.”

It’s easy to pray this in the calm, quiet moments.

But pray this way when
God places a challenge of service before you and
calls you to step out in faith.

Pray this when a situation demands that
you give yourself beyond your comfort level.

Pray this when you face a difficult relationship and
emotions cry out for
escape or
revenge.

Pray this when you have to give up your rights
in order to serve someone else.

“Jesus, I lay aside my self-concern.
Lead, and I will follow.”