The Worth of a Soul

Today, we are exploring how Jesus makes it clear that the only way to save our souls is to die to ourselves and live a life His way. Before we dive in, let's spend some time in prayer.

God, I ask for Your presence and guidance during this time. Please speak with me about the things You want me to know. Help me understand what it means to be Your faithful follower and identify areas where I can improve by taking steps toward true discipleship. Open my heart and mind to hear Your voice and obey your commands. Amen.

Matthew 16:24-26 (NLT)

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

It can be tempting to prioritize our desires and interests, but Jesus calls us to lay down our lives and take up our cross to follow Him. This is a call to self-sacrifice and a reminder that the cost of discipleship is high. This means surrendering our will and submitting to His, even when it is difficult or uncomfortable. I understand it can be challenging to do as a work in progress. As we reflect on these words, we must ask ourselves: What are we willing to give up to follow Jesus?

Sometimes we get caught up in the things of this world and forget about our eternal destination. It can be easy to become consumed with the pursuit of worldly success, accolades, achievement, and all the shiny objects, but ultimately, this will not satisfy us. Jesus makes it clear that the things of this world are temporary and that our souls are what truly matter. True fulfillment and purpose come from following Jesus and living by His teachings. We cannot gain anything of lasting value if we lose our souls in the process. Do you truly believe that Jesus has your best interest at heart? Or do you tend to trust in yourself instead?

Take some time to pray and invite God into your heart to guide you in your next steps. You can use the prayer prompts to get started.

Are you willing to put aside your desires and ambitions and instead focus on God's will for your life?

Are you willing to take up your cross, which symbolizes the suffering and persecution that may come with following Christ?

Let us take up our cross and follow Jesus, even when it is difficult. Let us deny ourselves and put God's will above our own. And let us remember that the reward for following Christ is eternal life.