Monday: Day 17

For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Mark 8:35-37

             Jesus must have turned the lives of his disciples upside down. They just weren’t accustomed to what he was asking of them. His questions were too probing, too intense, and often asked too much of them.

             Perhaps he turned the lives of his disciples upside down. But today his deep and probing questions help us to live in an upside down world.

             Losing our lives to save them? Gain the world and forfeit our lives? Giving everything in return for our lives? Surely, there must be an easier way!


            Remember that Jesus uses questions as a methodology for deepening our lives of discipleship. His questions bring an upside-down logic which runs counter cultural to worldly values. Jesus wants us to gain life; to live into the abundance of life that he promises here and now, and also to gain eternal life after our physical bodies die. While most of us are only able to see a short-term perspective on life, Jesus always has his eyes on the long-term perspective of an abundant life now and eternal life in the future. He wants us to be right-side up in an upside-down world.

             Perhaps that’s why integrity is so important for Christians. Integrity comes from the root word to integrate. Integrity is deciding to integrate the values of my heart with the actions that I do every day.

             Integrity is deciding; deciding to integrate my heart’s values with my daily actions. You don’t act with integrity by accident; it’s not something that you just slip into. Living with integrity is a decision. It’s a daily commitment.

             Think about it in terms of speaking the truth. Many people feel comfortable with little “white lies.” But white lies develop a life of their own, and soon then come back to haunt you, and you end up telling more and more of them. And the truth about not telling the truth is that you always get found out! Mark Twain once said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” When you decide to integrate your heart’s values with your daily actions you quickly find that you never regret doing the right thing. You will probably regret doing the wrong thing, but you never regret doing the right thing.

             What will we give in return for our lives?

             Perhaps we are learning that whatever we need to give in return for our lives is well worth the price.

Questions to Ponder

• What “white lies” do you feel is permissible for Christians to use? Why do you think it’s OK?
• Do you think it’s true that you never regret doing the right thing, but you often regret doing the wrong (or easy) thing? Why or why not?

Prayer for Today: Dear God. I don’t like being upside down in my life. I want to do your will, but I sometimes would like to do it my own way. From this day forward, loving God, help me to seek Your truth, whatever it may look like. Help us trust you. Help me to speak the Your truth in loving ways. Keep me close to you. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This beautiful song helps us remember the great sacrifice Jesus made in giving himself for us.  And it blesses us every time we celebrate the Meal that helps us remember.