Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them. “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? Mark 8:34-38 HCSB

If we choose to follow Christ, He gives four things in our passage today we must do. First we must deny ourselves. This means God first, others second and we come last. Then we must take up our cross. Some people associate the cross with burdens we face in every day life, but in Jesus’ day the cross was a symbol of a painful and humiliating death. To take up our cross means to carry our instrument of death. We must die to our old way of living in order to be that new creature in Christ.

We must be willing to lose our life. This refers to our worldly lives here on earth. We must lose our sinful ways in order to prepare for eternity in heaven. He asks what good is it for man to gain the world but lose his soul? This world is very temporary, why would we give up heaven for the world?

I thank God for my parents and my parents for teaching me to stand up. I was raised in the 70’s and my dad detested what he saw happening with drugs and the young people in our community. He was very vocal with politicians and fought against those who did nothing to stop the drugs or even profited from them.

My mother brought me to church and taught me the Christian way of dealing with conflict. My mother never backed down when she stood for what was right.

They taught me to stand up for what I believed in. They gave me courage and confidence. I carried this into my law enforcement career. But as I went to college and entered the workforce I allowed myself to fall into temptation and did things I knew was not right. I did what I wanted to do. I was profiting the world, but losing my soul.

I would follow this pattern for years in a roller coaster type relationship with Jesus. I was with with him and riding high for a while and then I would lose my way and sink low. This type of lifestyle was exhausting. I finally decided to give it over to God.

I became a “nut” to some of those who knew me. I was a “nut” when I didn’t want to go out drinking. I was more of a nut when I stopped drinking entirely. I was a “nut” when I refused to skip church to do something “fun.” I was such a nut that to me church became really fun. I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord (Psalm 122:1).

I have come to love prayer time with fellow believers. I have come to love Bible study and worship. I now understand why my mom had me in church every time the doors opened. I want others to experience the peace and joy I have found in Jesus Christ. I want my friends and family to know that no one will ever love them like God loves them.

You may see a “nut” when you look at me but that’s okay. I am learning and I am growing more in Jesus each and every day. I have become strong enough to take a stand for Him and I will gladly do so.

I’m okay with losing the life I had before, because He has saved Me. I no longer have to worry because I know He cares for me and I can cast my cares upon Him (Philippians 4:6).

Maybe you look at Christians around you as nuts. Maybe you just don’t understand what all the fuss is about. I challenge you to find out. Pick up a Bible and study it. Don’t go it alone. Find a good Bible teaching church and learn all you can about Jesus. Soak it up like a sponge.

To know Jesus is to love Jesus. When we love Jesus we stand up for Him. We live our lives so that others can see Him through us.

Trust in Him today. If you are called a nut that’s okay just let people know that you are growing into a mighty oak and they can too.

Have a great day!