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Mark 8

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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 gospels' 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

We are called to put other people before ourselves. To be humble servants for the Lord and show others Christ's love by our actions. By denying ourselves taking up of cross and following Him. God never said that life as a Christian would be easy. None of us are better then the other in the eyes of God. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. We all put our pants on the same way, one leg at a time. Those who become puffed up and consider themselves higher then they ought is just deceiving themselves. Pride comes before a fall. Keeping our focus on the Lord is what gets us through times when we feel like everything is against us. We need to allow God to be our avenger. His judgment is far greater then us getting worked up when someone wrongs us. We should be praying for those people and praying that we will have  heart of forgiveness for them. Bitterness will just cause a gap in our relationship with the Lord. Another wall that He has to break down in order to fully use us. God word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. If we hid its words in our hearts it will help us abstain from the sin that so easily besets us. So that we can run the race that is set before us. We need to shout His word from the roof tops. Not be ashamed of it. By opening our mouths we are planting a seed. Showing others the love of Christ, the truth of His word and in doing so putting others before ourselves. No matter the outcome of our witness in this world that is so quick to silence the word of God. All the more reason the share the Word. Putting on the shield of truth and the breastplate of righteousness and be willing to fight the battle. Picking up our cross and following Him to the point of death just as He died for us to receive eternal life.

Comments

  1. Denise YoungMarch 23, 2015 at 5:26 PM

    Mark 8:38, "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.” When we call ourselves a Christian, we are identifying ourselves with someone who was hated and murdered. It's not like you've picked what looks like the winning side...at least not yet. It requires a measure of faith, even when the circumstances look hopeless. Many will grow weary of doing good and fall out of the race. Others won't be able to endure the persecution that accompanies our identity in Christ. James 1:12, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

    Ephesians 6:10-13, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

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