Matthew Chapter 16
Matthew 16: 24 – 26
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”
We often hear speakers quoting this passage reminding listeners the importance of salvation when compared to the things of the world. Such reminders are always good, for we are forgetful.
In this passage, Jesus makes it clear to his disciples, it is either your soul or the world. He is not ambiguous, no two ways about it.
If I want to be his disciple, I must deny myself, take up my cross and follow Him. If I want my soul, give up the world! I cannot have the best of both worlds; I cannot serve two masters (Matt 6: 24).
Jesus weighs the value of the soul in contrast with the entire world by telling us to consider, what can one offer in exchange for his soul?
He goes to the extreme telling us that even if one has the entire world, he cannot use it to exchange for his soul! One cannot use physical matter to exchange for spiritual ones.
Jesus also mentioned about the cross. The cross is often associated with pain and suffering but we know we will be victorious for on the cross Christ died and overcame death (cf. Rom 6: 9)!
Everyone has our cross to bear, and each is different. Some face health issues, others go through fiery trials to just be able to believe in Christ, some poverty, some broken relationships… etc.
Hence neither do we compare nor murmur why do some have it better than other me for we truly do not know what he has gone through. What we can be assured is no matter how light or heavy our cross is, our Lord will not leave us to fend for ourselves like orphans, for He promise to walk life’s journey with us (John 14: 18, cf. Zeph 3: 17).
Grace upon grace, strength to strength as we carry our cross!
