My Life, My Cross

Mark 8:36-37  For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life?


My life? What can I give for my life? The gospel account does not seem to refer to biological life. It hits me as if Jesus is referring strictly to eternal life. The passage has within it that element of self-sacrifice in the portion before my pick he speaks of our need to daily pick up our cross and follow him. At times my focus is on the purpose of the cross as an instrument of death, but we could only do that once not daily. I've found that life, the good life, happens more when I am looking at caring for others than it does when I'm looking to take care of me. I prefer that quality of life even if at moments it feels very heavy with the burdens I share with others. I'm not looking for profit at those moments but rather trying to live out my purpose. 


It was Jesus who gave for my life. I can claim my own salvation in some self-focused life, even if that is a life serving others, and I will miss the point. My true life is found in my focus on Jesus. It is when I am not trying to look out for me, but when I'm clearly taking up my cross through the grace of the Holy Spirit and continuing the work of Jesus in spreading his love to the needy. Daily the opportunities are there before me to gain the world and lose my life, or deny myself and find abundant life.