January 15th 2026
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”Mark 8:34-36
What good is it for someone to gain entire world, yet forfeit their soul?
I think of the temptations that Jesus faced in the wilderness. The offering of having everything of this world, yet he would lose his relationship with You, his Father in Heaven. He chose You.
Father, there is such profoundness and conviction in these words spoken by Jesus to his disciples; to us. We gain our lives when we lose ourselves (our lives); our secular, worldly, here, and now lives. Yet, what we gain is our eternal life; our Kingdom life with You. There is a cost to gaining this eternal life, but what we gain is so very much worth the cost.
Lord, it has taken time, but now I see that nothing on earth is worth more to me than an eternal connection with You, my God. Praise You! When the world tries to tempt me away from You, may I hold on to the knowledge that Jesus refused the temptation of this world.
Lord, may I remember that what is gained in an eternal life with You is far, far better than anything this world could offer.
In Jesus Name
Today I will pick up my cross and follow You for this is a choice we make every day; to follow You or follow the world.
Faith Grows Faith 