For Whoever Wants To Save Their Life Will Lose It, But Whoever Loses Their Life For Me Abd For The Gospel Will Save It

MARK 8:34-38
“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
”‭‭Mark‬ ‭8:34-38‬ ‭NKJV‬
‬https://bible.com/bible/114/mrk.8.34-38.NKJ

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Are you ready to take up your cross and follow Jesus? The Romans, Mark's original audience, knew what taking up the cross meant.
Death on the cross was a form of execution used by Rome for most dangerous, violent criminals, the worst of all criminals.
The prisoner carried his own cross to the place of execution, signifying submission to Rome's power.
Jesus used this image of carrying a cross to illustrate the ultimate submission required by His followers.
He wasn't saying we should seek pain needlessly, or that He was against pleasure. He was talking about the heroic effort needed to follow Him moment by moment, even in difficult times; even if it means suffering for Christ and the future looks bleak.
Paul wrote in PHILIPPIANS 2:21: "For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
Like Paul, we should be willing to lose our life for the sake of the Good News, not because our life is worthless or useless, but because nothing, not even life itself can compare to what we gain in Christ.
Jesus wants us to choose to follow Him rather than lead a life of sin and self-satisfaction. He wants us to allow Him to direct us and stop trying to control our own destiny.
This makes good sense because as the Creator, Christ knows better than us what real life is about.
He asks for submission, not self-hatred, He asks only that we lose our self-centered determination to be in charge.
Many people spend their time and energy seeking pleasure. But Jesus said that worldliness, which is centered on possessions, position, or power, and is ultimately worthless.
Everything we have on earth is temporary, nothing is more valuable than your soul. If you work hard at getting what you want, you might eventually have a "pleasurable" life, but in the end, without Christ, it is all temporary and you will find it hollow and empty.
We come into this earth naked and empty handed and we shall leave the same-“As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a severe evil— Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5:15-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My brethren, Jesus said, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭8:34-36‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Are you willing to make the pursuit of God more important than self pursuits?
It is not always easy to follow Jesus, many suffer persecution, pain and hardship for their faith. But Jesus gives us a choice; a choice that brings a future and a hope, and the reality of a wonderful future that will not be soiled (JEREMIAH 29:11).
Jesus constantly turns the world's perspective upside down with talk of the first and last, saving or losing. But we can reject Jesus now and be rejected by Him when He returns, or we can accept Him now and be accepted by Him forever.
Rejecting Christ now, may stop the persecution, the trials and challenges and hatred that we suffer now, but acceptance brings a wonderful joy in living in Christ every day, His peace that surpasses all understanding that shall guard your hearts and minds (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7), and the wonderful prospect of a future of eternal life in paradise with our creator God forever (REVELATION 21:3-4).
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.