Devotion:
Read Mark 8:34-38.
Mark’s original audience knew what it meant to take up the cross. Death by crucifixion on a cross was used for the most dangerous criminals. A prisoner carried his own cross to the place of execution as a symbol of submission to Roman authority. In our passage today Jesus tells his disciples and the crowd that to follow him, they would need to do three things: give up their selfish ways, take up their cross, and follow him. Let’s see how this applies to us. Giving up our selfish ways is more than 'self-denial', where we give up this or that, now and again. It is a total surrender of our own wishes and personal desires so that we are willing to seek God’s will for our lives in all areas. Taking up our cross does not mean living with inconveniences or annoyances, but rather it means being willing to die for our faith and, if we live, to do so sacrificially because of our faith. Finally, to truly follow Christ means to strive to be like him in all areas of our life. Following Christ is surrendering everything to him. Discipleship comes with a cost. You might ask yourself, “How willing am I to surrender all to him?”
Personal Worship Option:
Meditate on the words to the hymn “I Surrender All.”
All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live
All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me, Jesus, take me now
I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Savior
I surrender all
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