This chapter continues the ministry of Jesus with more healing, another miraculous feeding of a crowd, and the first time Jesus foretells His death / resurrection.
“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ ” (v34-38)
Jesus isn’t just talking about martyrdom here (though that is sometimes an outcome for a devoted Christ follower) – he’s talking about surrendering our fleshly / sinful ambitions and exchanging them for obedience to God. God honors those who devote themselves to His compassionate cause. Those who choose to dishonor God (or be ashamed of Him) will be dishonored / disowned by Him. It sounds pretty straight-forward.
What does being ashamed of God look like? Perhaps it looks like an unwillingness to obey, or timidity in testifying of God’s work in our lives. I realize that obedience and sharing our testimonies can be uncomfortable (I’m an extremely introverted and private person), but what does the Kingdom of God gain by our reluctance? Nothing. Shy or not, scared or not, we need to be obediently following the path God lays before us Thankfully, the indwelling Holy Spirit emboldens and equips us, so we are able to obey. Also, God knows us extremely well, and loves us very much, so He will never ask us to do something for which He will not equip us (that would be cruel, and He is not a cruel God).
Heavenly Father, our Wise and Discerning Lord, thank you for calling us according to Your will and purposes. Thank you Spirit for equipping and strengthening us to obey the Lord’s calling. Thank you for never calling us into something and abandoning us on that journey. Thank you as well for teaching us the sound of Your voice, so we may discern which callings are from You, and which ones are not. We entrust our leadership, equipping, and wellbeing into Your more than capable hands, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training