The Cost of Following Jesus (Devo by Stevo)
Part One of "The Road to Jerusalem"
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38)
DAY 1: GIVING UP OUR WAY TO FOLLOW CHRIST
Scripture: Mark 8:34-35 "Then calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it, but if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the good news, you will save it.'"
Reflection: The Christian journey begins with a paradox: to truly live, we must first surrender our lives. This isn't merely giving up bad habits or making small sacrifices; it's about a complete reorientation of our priorities. When Jesus calls us to take up our cross, He's inviting us into a radical new way of living where self-preservation is no longer our primary concern.
In our culture of self-fulfillment and personal achievement, this message feels increasingly countercultural. Yet Jesus doesn't offer us a better version of our own way; He offers us His way instead. What areas of your life remain firmly under your control? What would it look like to surrender these completely to Christ's leadership today?
Song: "I Surrender All" by Judson W. Van DeVenter
"All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live."
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess that I often hold tightly to my own way, my own plans, and my own life. Today, I choose to loosen my grip and surrender to You. Show me what it means to take up my cross daily and follow You, even when the path leads through difficulty. Help me to trust that in losing my life for Your sake, I will find true life abundant. In Your name, Amen.
DAY 2: VALUING WHAT TRULY MATTERS
Scripture: Matthew 16:26 "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?"
Reflection: Every day, we make decisions about what we value most. Sometimes these are conscious choices, but often they're revealed in how we spend our time, money, and energy. Jesus challenges us to examine what we've deemed worthy of our ultimate devotion. Have we valued status, career, material possessions, or even family above our relationship with Christ?
The question isn't whether these things have value—many do—but whether they've taken the place that only Christ should occupy. True discipleship means reordering our lives around what has eternal significance: Christ's kingdom and His gospel. When the gospel becomes our highest value, other priorities find their proper place. What one thing in your life might be competing with Christ for first place?
Song: "The Heart of Worship" by Matt Redman
"I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about You, all about You, Jesus. I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it, when it's all about You, all about You, Jesus."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for valuing lesser things above You and Your kingdom. Open my eyes to see where I've mistaken good things for ultimate things. Help me to treasure Christ above all else, knowing that nothing in this world compares to the worth of knowing You. Reorder my priorities today according to Your values, not the world's. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.
DAY 3: FOLLOWING CHRIST UNASHAMED
Scripture: Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."
Reflection: Being unashamed of our faith doesn't mean being obnoxious or insensitive. Rather, it means refusing to hide our relationship with Christ when it might be socially convenient to do so. Like the speaker's 8th-grade experience with his friend Drew, we've all faced moments when acknowledging our faith felt risky or uncomfortable.
In our increasingly post-Christian culture, following Jesus openly requires genuine courage. Social media, workplace environments, and even family gatherings can become places where faith is subtly discouraged or openly mocked. Yet Jesus calls us to acknowledge Him before others, promising that He will acknowledge us before the Father. What situation in your life currently tempts you to keep your faith private rather than public?
Song: "No Longer Slaves" by Jonathan David Helser & Melissa Helser
"I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God. I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God."
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I've kept silent when I should have spoken, when I've hidden my faith to avoid discomfort or rejection. Give me the courage to follow You unashamed, to speak Your truth with both boldness and love. Remove the fear that keeps me from fully identifying with You in every setting of my life. May I never be ashamed of You or Your gospel, for in it lies the power of salvation. In Your name, Amen.
DAY 4: WILLING TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING
Scripture: Philippians 3:7-8 "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ."
Reflection: The early Christians understood sacrifice in ways many modern believers have never experienced. They routinely lost family relationships, social standing, and livelihoods for their faith—some even gave their lives. While many of us haven't faced such extreme choices, Jesus is clear that authentic discipleship must be prepared for sacrifice.
Paul's testimony in Philippians shows a man who had lost everything worldly but considered it garbage compared to knowing Christ. This radical perspective challenges our tendency to seek a comfortable Christianity that demands little. The question isn't whether we would die for Christ in a hypothetical situation, but whether we're willing to live for Him daily in ways that may cost us comfort, relationships, or opportunities. What sacrifice feels most difficult for you to make in following Christ today?
Song: "Take My Life" by Frances Ridley Havergal/Chris Tomlin
"Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise."
Prayer: Father God, I admit that I often want the benefits of following You without the costs. Give me the perspective of Paul, who counted everything as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Help me hold loosely to my possessions, relationships, reputation, and comfort, willing to sacrifice whatever You ask for the sake of Your kingdom. May I count it joy to suffer for Your name if called to do so. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAY 5: LIVING A LIFE OF SELF-GIVING LOVE
Scripture: John 15:12-13 "This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."
Reflection: At the heart of Christian discipleship lies self-giving love. Jesus didn't just teach this principle; He embodied it through His life and ultimately through His death. The cross stands as history's most profound expression of love—God giving Himself for us. Now, we're called to pattern our lives after this same sacrificial love.
This kind of love isn't simply warm feelings or kind words; it's active and costly. It means prioritizing others' needs above our comfort, defending the vulnerable, forgiving repeatedly, and serving without recognition. In small daily decisions and potentially in moments of great sacrifice, Christ calls us to embody His love to a watching world. What one act of selfless love could you perform today that puts someone else's needs before your own?
Song: "Build My Life" by Pat Barrett
"I will build my life upon Your love, it is a firm foundation. I will put my trust in You alone and I will not be shaken."
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your love is the foundation and model for all Christian love. Thank You for demonstrating what true love looks like through Your sacrifice on the cross. Help me to follow Your example by loving others not just with words, but with actions and truth. Teach me to lay down my preferences, my comfort, and even my rights for the good of others. May my life become increasingly shaped by Your self-giving love, reflecting You to everyone I encounter. In Your name I pray, Amen.
Steven E Fairbanks
Steven E Fairbanks
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