Daily Devotion for March 24, 2024

 

Devotion:

Read Mark 8:34-38.

One of my favorite descriptions of Jesus related to Holy Week is this: The Cross was not just the way he died; it was the way he lived. His way was a life of sacrifice, a way of servanthood. He was all about giving of himself to meet the needs of others and to help everyone know of a God who loved them and wanted them to experience life at its best and fullest.

In our passage for today, he lets it be known that to be a follower of his, one must adopt this way of sacrifice. It is not enough just to believe in him and seek his blessing. It is not enough just to call him “Lord.” We are to grow in our willingness to sacrifice our way for his way, our resources for his mission, our everyday life for the good of others.

For Jesus, this journey to Jerusalem was a journey to the cross, to the ultimate sacrifice. If we are willing to follow him there, we will be confronted with our own level of willingness to sacrifice for him and for others to come to know him. One of the lines in our Communion liturgy says, “We offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice….” Sometimes we are led to sacrifice in small ways while at other times the sacrifice called for may be more. The question is this: does the way of sacrifice continue to be a way of life for you? Don’t ever forget Jesus’ statement here: “...whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

Personal Worship Option:

Here are two verses from a hymn written by Frances Havergal in 1873, yet still serving as a good prayer for followers of Jesus:

Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to thee.

Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.

Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my will and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine.  

Take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure-store.

Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for thee.