THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP: SURRENDERING SELF FOR ETERNAL GAIN
THE SEED
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34 NIV
One must be willing to deny personal desires and embrace the challenges that come with faith (“take up their cross”). To make it clearer to His disciples, He contrasts the idea of trying to preserve one’s life and earthly gain with the eternal loss of one’s soul, emphasizing that spiritual integrity and loyalty to God outweigh all worldly success. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves…” and “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it. These sentences are conditional, as they describe situations where the condition has a real possibility of happening, and the outcome or consequence will occur as a result. Let us pay attention to the important points that Jesus made here in 4 parts:
Self-denial and Sacrifice: The call to “deny themselves” and “take up their cross” reflects the need to surrender personal comfort or desires to follow Christ faithfully. Losing to Gain: Jesus teaches that seeking to preserve one’s life for selfish reasons leads to ultimate loss, but surrendering one’s life for Him and the gospel leads to salvation.
Value of the Soul: The passage questions the profit of gaining worldly riches or status at the expense of one’s spiritual well-being. Loyalty and Judgment: Jesus warns that those who are ashamed of Him and His teachings will face judgment when He returns in divine glory. Matt 10:33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. Be attentive to the choices one makes in this life concerning faith, obedience, and the gospel. Denial on earth to live a life far from God signifies Him denying you a place in eternity. Choose wisely!
BIBLE READING: Mark 8:34-38
PRAYER: Jesus, let your Holy Spirit fill me, to forsake worldly pleasures and be wholly yours.
OHUN TÍ Ó NÁNI LATI DI OMO ÈYÌN: JIJỌWO ARA ENI FUN ERE ORUN
IRUGBIN NAA
Ó sì pe ogunlọ́gọ̀ náà wá sọ́dọ̀ rẹ̀, ó sì sọ pé: “Ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá fẹ́ di ọmọ ẹ̀yìn mi, kí ó sẹ́ ara rẹ̀, kí ó sì gbé àgbélébùú rẹ̀, kí ó sì máa tẹ̀ lé mi. Máàkù 8:34
Jesu kọni pe lati jẹ ọmọ-ẹhin Rẹ, ọkan gbọdọ jẹ setan lati kọ awọn ifẹ ti ara ẹni ati ki o gba awọn italaya ti o wa pẹlu igbagbọ (“gbe agbelebu wọn”). Láti mú kí ó túbọ̀ ṣe kedere sí àwọn ọmọ ẹ̀yìn Rẹ̀, Ó ṣe ìyàtọ̀ èrò inú gbígbìyànjú láti pa ìwàláàyè ẹni mọ́ àti èrè ti ayé mọ́ ìpàdánù ẹ̀mí ènìyàn ayérayé, ní títẹnumọ́ pé ìdúróṣinṣin ẹ̀mí àti ìdúróṣinṣin sí Ọlọ́run ju gbogbo àṣeyọrí ayé lọ. “Ẹnikẹni ti o ba fẹ lati jẹ ọmọ-ẹhin mi gbọdọ sẹ ara wọn …” ati “Nitori ẹnikẹni ti o fẹ lati gba ẹmi wọn là yoo padanu rẹ. Awọn gbolohun ọrọ wọnyi jẹ ipo, bi wọn ti ṣe apejuwe awọn ipo nibiti ipo naa ti yóò ṣeeṣe ti n ṣẹlẹ, ati abajade yoo waye bi èsì. Kiko ara ẹni ati Ẹbọ: Ipe lati “kọ ara wọn” ati “gbe agbelebu wọn” ṣe afihan iwulo lati fi itunu tabi awọn ifẹ ti ara ẹni silẹ lati tẹle Kristi ni otitọ.
Pipadanu Lati Jèrè: Jesu kọni pe wiwa lati pa ẹmi eniyan mọ́ fun awọn idi ti mọtara-ẹni-nikan n ṣamọna si isonu ti o ga julọ, ṣugbọn jijẹ ara ẹni jisilẹ fun Oun ati ihinrere yoo ṣamọna si igbala. Ìwúlò Ọkàn: Àyọkà náà ń béèrè èrè jíjèrè ọrọ̀ ayé tàbí ipò tí a kò fi ní lọ́wọ́ sí ire tẹ̀mí ẹni. Ìdúróṣinṣin àti Ìdájọ́: Jésù kìlọ̀ pé àwọn tí ojú òun àti àwọn ẹ̀kọ́ Rẹ̀ yóò dojú kọ ìdájọ́ nígbà tí Òun bá padà wá nínú ògo àtọ̀runwá. Matteu 10:33 Ṣugbọn ẹnikẹni ti o ba sẹ mi li aye, emi o si sẹ pẹlu niwaju Baba mi ti o wa ni ọrun. Ṣe akiyesi pataki si pataki ti ayeraye ti awọn yiyan ti eniyan ṣe ni igbesi aye yii nipa igbagbọ, igboran, ati ihinrere. Kíkòó lori ile aye lati gbe igbesi aye ti o jinna si Ọlọrun n tọka si pe o kọ ọ ni aye ni ayeraye. Yan bí olọgbọn!
BIBELI KIKA: Máàkù 8:34-38
ADURA: Jesu, jẹ ki Ẹmi Mimọ rẹ kun mi, lati kọ awọn igbadun aye silẹ ki o si jẹ tirẹ patapata. Amin.