Mark 8:34-35 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. There is something to lay down.
Sunday’s sermon reminded us that we have been called not only to salvation, but also to discipleship. We saw from Mark 8 that when we follow Jesus there is something to lay down (our sinful nature and desire to control our destiny) something to take up (the cross which includes sharing the gospel and being willing to suffer the way Jesus did) and something to take on (the life of Jesus as we follow after Him daily). We discovered that the way to great gain and contentment is our willingness to lose everything for the sake of the Gospel.
I Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
One last thought. Think of losing your life like boarding an airplane and going through security. You must be willing to put everything under examination and let anything go to undertake the journey. Think of your personal items that you may have to put into the screener’s box for examination: your wedding ring to represent your relationships, your watch to represent your time, your shoes to represent where you go, your wallet to represent your possessions and funds etc. If anything is deemed by security to be a threat to the mission of the flight you must be willing to either stay behind or sacrifice the item (mailing it back) for the mission.
(https://soundfaith.com/sermons/28403-take-up-your-cross-and-follow-me)
During this Year of the Gospel, will you go all the way with Jesus? Will you deny yourself? Take up your cross? Follow Him? Will you lose your life for the sake of the Gospel?
Pastor Melissa
Rev. Dr. Melissa Pratt
Melissa@tvcog.org
Teays Valley Church of God
6979 Teays Valley Rd
Scott Depot, WV 25560
304-757-9222
www.tvcog.org
