Mark 8: 31-37 Jesus Predicts His Death
31He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “get behind me, Satan!”he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Jesus goes on to warn the crowd that anyone who wants to follow him must deny themselves and be willing to lose their life! He challenges us with this question- What can a man give in exchange for his soul?
This is a question that each of us tries to answer some time and some way during our life. Therein is the challenge that Jesus presents to us. Should we have in mind the things of man and enjoy earthly pleasures? Or- can we find that spiritual place where we begin to look at things as God intended? Imagine announcing to the disciples that you must deny and risk loss of life. What? No way!
Yet these followers were witnesses to “God With Us” and believed.
So where are you on your journey this Lenten season? Are you like Peter and thinking in the ways of man or has the Holy Spirit challenged you to respond to his calling? There is a quotation attributed to Roy Disney that goes “ Ir’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” If you are reading this then you know what you value most. What better time than Lent to reinvigorate your faith thru the things of God? May it always be so!
Prayer: Heavenly father we thank you for the witness of believers. Forgive us when we turn our thoughts to earthly things. Continue to feed our souls spirtually with your word so we can do your will here on Earth. Thank you for the promise of forgiveness and eternal life through your son Jesus Christ. Amen
Marv Jones
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