Numbers 28-29; Mark 8

Mark 8:34-38

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. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Those of us who have been "churchified" over the years have heard this passage many times. But have we really wanted to understand what Jesus is saying? What does it really look like when it is lived out? What does my denying David and taking up my cross look like? How does David lose his life for the gospel? There is no way to sort of lose your life. I cannot half-way deny myself. To come and follow Jesus is to set my feet on a singular path from which I cannot stray or wander. Because to follow my own path and set my own course is a denial of my following Jesus. Lord, give me the strength to carry my cross and the courage to lose my life in following Your will.