“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 and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Mark 8:34-37
"What about you? You may be saved, or half-saved or badly and poorly saved. Perhaps you knew God wanted you but you wandered away; you compromised with your business or your school and now God seems so far away from you.
And He is far away, in one sense, but in another He is as near as your heartbeat, for the cross has bridged the gulf. Let the blood of Jesus cleanse us from all sin. He who is God the Transcendent One says,“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”."
As he so often does, AW Tozer asks the most probing of questions, "What about you?" Does God seem far away? Did you once walk on the straight path made by God for you but now you wander on the confused path of your own making? I know that feeling because I lived it for years not so long ago! God isn't far away, He's still next to you! He's still in you, you just haven't spoken to Him in a long time, so you don't recognize His voice. Regardless, He's not far away, but right next to you. Pick up your cross and step back on the path He has for you.
Join me in reading Mark 8 and be encouraged!
