•Perfect Promise•

Mark 8:34-38

[34]And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. [35] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. [36] For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? [37] Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? [38] Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. …

      God is looking for those who are willing to give up their life for him. He isn’t looking for those who are content with just knowing him, he is recruiting people who will follow him, dig deeper in a relationship with him, and no matter the pain and circumstances are willing to die to theirselves for him. The twelve disciples left the life they knew to follow Jesus; they stepped out in faith. Jesus knowing that he soon would die for the salvation of the world, and so he said this very verse; this is a challenge to come and die. Jesus looked at the cost and said the kingdom of God is worth more than this world. He chose to pick up his cross and die to himself , because it’s not about us we exist for the lord. God is more concerned about people rather out comfort, it’s about dying to self and chasing the bigger picture. To say no to ourselves and yes to something greater to lose our lives for him. The disciples didn’t know what this cross represented until the end; that takes a lot of faith. Jesus knew what was to come but he loved us so much that he bore the scares lashes and accusations, the most high died for our sins. So who are we not to follow him ? This to me is an exhortation and encouragement followed with a promise. If we give up our lives for him then we will gain life with him.