THE PRICE AND THE PRIZE

MUSINGS - October 26, 2018

THE PRICE AND THE PRIZE

Mark 8:34-38
Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples. He said to them, "Those who want to follow me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me and for the Good News will save them. What good does it do for people to win the whole world yet lose their lives? Or what should a person give in exchange for life? If people are ashamed of me and what I say in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of those people when he comes with the holy angels in his Father's glory."

If you thought being a follower of Christ would be easy, you are delusional. It ain't easy, my friends, but it's doable. Even Jesus's twelve closest friends and first followers suffered greatly. Although the scriptures only tell if the deaths of two of them, early church reports and legends claim that all but one died horrible deaths by crucifixion, stoning, burning, decapitation, and stabbing by knives, swords and spears.

You can't say that they weren't warned of the cost of following him. He told them, "Go! I'm sending you out like lambs among wolves." (Luke 10:3) You must be willing to abandon everything and everyone that is important too you for his sake. It is not always required to give up everything but it's always required that you be willing to do so. Read Luke 9:57-62 for more on the cost of discipleship.

No we are not promised that life will be easy but it will be easier because he will share our burdens and comfort us. There are rewards in this life and the next. Matthew 25:34 "Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world."

Keep you eyes on the prize.

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