Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
A Denial of His Lordship
Pastor Scott
Friday, March 19, 2004
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"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it."
(Mark 8:35)
"...Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and [for] the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what [does] it profit a man, if he [gains all of] the world [the world's recognition, fame, fortune], and lose his own soul? Or what [would] a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:34-37) People sell out awfully cheap for a quick fix. We sell out cheap all the time. We seem to think that when it really comes down to it, we'd never deny the Lord; yet every act of disobedience is a denial of His lordship. Every time we disobey, every time we do other than what we know to do, is a denial and a reproach.
Many of us have seen the movie The Passion. Beloved, every act of disobedience, regardless of how big or small you may think it is, caused Jesus to go through that scene that you saw portrayed. Every one of your decisions to be lord of your life put a stripe on His back, a nail in His hands, and a spear in His side. Every choice for self causes Him to hear, "You have to drink the cup," and causes Him to say, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" It wasn't just the universal sin problem; it is your specific vaunting of self-will, devaluing His blood and overvaluing your ease, comfort, pleasure, and rights.
Jesus said you have to take up the cross, for if you try to save your life, you'll lose it. "But whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and for the gospel's, the same shall save it...What [are you going to] give in exchange for [your] soul?" (8:34-35, 37) The accumulation of all those bad decisions for self puts your soul up on the auction block. The price isn't the issue; you can sell out cheap or you can demand a big price, but you are what you are. Jesus is calling us to fidelity, faithfulness, and holiness without compromise.
"[For] whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words..." (8:38). To deny it is to be ashamed of it. When you choose not to obey the Word, you're ashamed of the Word. You deny its wisdom. You deny that it's the power of God unto salvation. You deny that faith--the only source of strength for us as believers--comes from the Word. You don't believe that faith, wisdom, power, and redemption come from this Word. You don't believe that it's alive and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. You don't believe that it's a lamp unto your feet. You don't believe that it's more necessary than your natural food--or you'd eat it. Nobody forces you to eat your natural food. Most of us are pretty willing to eat. Are you jealous for the Word that way? Do you delight in it more than your necessary food? Do you really savor the wisdom of God and the Word of God?