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. —Mark 8:35 (NKJV)
Beloved, do you want to have a meaningful life filled with peace and prosperity? Do you desire a wonderful and admirable existence that offers both earthly and eternal security? If so, you must consider the necessity of denying yourself to follow the Lord Jesus. He is the heir of this world, the author and the finisher of our faith, and the only door to God the Father.
Although this might sound unusual to the religious mind, the fact remains that it is the ultimate truth. As far as this life is concerned, everything apart from Him is vanity. All that we pursue and the risks we take often end in emptiness; the only thing that truly counts is the Master. He is the greatest gain any man can have in this world because He is the guarantee of a life of value both here on earth and in the life to come.
The Lord is the true life insurance that every man needs to subscribe to. If you choose to follow Him and allow Him to lead you, He will add divine value to your life and make it worthwhile. You might ask how this is possible. He answered this Himself when He explained the cost and the reward of discipleship.
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? —Mark 8:34-37 (NKJV)
The Message translation brings further clarity to this call, stating that anyone who intends to come with Him has to let Him lead. You are not in the driver’s seat; He is. You are encouraged not to run from suffering but to embrace it as you follow Him. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way—His way—to finding your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose the real you?
This reveals that there is a “true you” that can only be found when you deny your carnal impulses and follow the Savior. I admonish you today to ponder these things. If you truly want to make your life count, you must consider this truth. Stop struggling to lead yourself or trying to force things to happen by your own power. Lean on the Lord Jesus, learn from Him, and let His words be your guiding light in all that you do. I guarantee that you will never regret it; instead, you will become a truly delightful person. Praise God!
Today’s Rhema
If you want to live a meaningful life, you must deny yourself and follow Jesus!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for making available the opportunity to live a meaningful life, and that opportunity is Jesus. I declare that I will not joke with this advantage but embrace it like never before, because in Him lies my life and my future. Thank You Father, in the name of Jesus. Amen!
