Today’s Reading, Mark 8-9
Focal Scripture: Mark 8:34 “Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
What does it mean to be a disciple of the Lord? Far too often people believe that following the Lord only requires repeating a prayer and doing some external works. They even believe being a Christ follower doesn’t come at a personal cost and requires nothing more than ritual obedience. Obviously, we are not saved by works, we are saved through grace alone. However, our works will demonstrate the change that has happened on the inside. For instance, if you are unwilling to deny your wants and desires to follow biblical principles are you truly born again?
In today reading Jesus is letting his hearers know that following him is not for the faint of heart. Being born again will cost his followers everything. To be a true disciple you must deny yourself. This means your flesh and anything that gets in the way of holiness. We can’t make excuses when we need to deny our wants. Then he lets his hearers know it’s time to take up their cross. This literally means that you are placing your life to the side to follow Christ. It is complete devotion to the Messiah. It is complete surrender to the mission of advancing the gospel to the ends of the Earth.
So where do you stand on discipleship? Is your view that discipleship is easy? That you read some Bible verses, give your time and every know and then talk about Jesus. Or are you passionate about the person you are following that you will follow him to his death. This is what the disciples were being faced with in this conversation. You want to follow me, you must leave it all on the line including your life. Jesus was not being ambiguous or speaking in a parable. He wanted complete commitment.
This truth also applies to us as believers. He doesn’t want part of you he wants all of you. Salvation is an exchange. Salvation is a purchase rooted in blood. Jesus purchased us from death and in exchange we live completely and totally committed to him, no matter what that costs us. Even if it means our life.
I challenge you today to ask yourself if your discipleship looks like that or if it is watered down to make it more palatable. Let’s be people who are all in with the one we follow. It will change us for the better and change the world also.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Mark 10-11
