12 September | EVERYONE
“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it." Mark 8: 34,35
On this occasion, the Teacher of Galilee addresses all human beings, "the people and His disciples.” It is a call to eternal life. All are invited to be citizens of the kingdom of life, and Jesus is the way. He is the one who will lead us to the Father. There is no other name under heaven by whom we can be saved. Therefore, if someone wishes to enjoy a full and meaningful life, you just have to follow Him, which means denying yourself and taking up the cross.
To what cross is the Master referring? It is not just the renunciation of the present world and its attractions. It is more than that. "To deny oneself" means to abandon the absurd idea that it is possible to attain the fullness of life by self-discipline, or by willpower. Whoever “wishes to follow Christ, […] to walk in His footsteps, will find self-denial and the cross in that path. All who follow Christ will understand what this involves” (Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 3, p. 252).
Salvation is not the reward offered to those who prove themselves to be good citizens or excellent members of a certain church. Salvation is beyond human reach. If anyone could do anything to be saved, the Lord Jesus would not have needed to come into the world. He came precisely because the poor human creature was sunk in the pit of despair and could do nothing to get out.
However, Jesus appeared in history to invite those who were lost to come into a new dimension of life. "Deny yourself," He said, "and come after Me. Do not trust your strength, trust Me. I am the way."
Take Action
Instinctively, your ego often points you to a path that is not the one that really suits you best. Hence, the need for you to deny yourself. We have wrong tendencies by nature. In Jesus, only in Jesus, they can be reversed so that you can have real life. Sing "Take Up His Cross" (if possible, with your family).