Friday, June 8, 2012

Mark 8: 34-36

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? NSV

It is plain even to the untrained eye that people in today’s day and age have a problem with prioritizing. We have departed from core values and are getting caught up in this rat race to accumulate material things. But this was exactly the sort of thing that Jesus spoke against. You see, our time on earth is shorter than many of us appear to realize. When we spend our energies in amassing things to the exclusion of building relationships and devoting time to our loved ones, we miss out. We must find time for people and for God. The question has been asked before, ‘how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?’ Our first order of business is to love and serve God. Our family must take precedence to outside business and that includes church offices and responsibilities. Following Jesus means doing the things that he did while here on earth. He left a blueprint of how we should operate and we would do well to use it as a guide. Start with the smallest thing and with God’s help build on that. Today, go forth and serve!