On God's Team

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Key Passage: Mark 8:31-9:1
Topic: Service/Servanthood

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he [Jesus] said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Mark 8:34, ESV)

Have you ever heard the saying, "There's no 'I' in team"? You might have also heard the sarcastic response, "But there is a 'me' in team."

That's true. But the "me" is in backward. In other words, whenever someone on a team acts on their own, they're working against the team.

That's why Jesus' response to Peter in this passage was so harsh. "Get behind me, Satan!" (Mark 8:33). Did Jesus mean that Peter had turned into Satan? No, God used Peter in great ways later in his life. But when Peter opposed Jesus' plan, it was just like a soldier recommending surrender to his general--a plan that would benefit the enemy.

Jesus was clear with His disciples: "If you're on my team, it will cost you your life." For many of the disciples, that was literally true. For us today that means giving up lives that are lived to satisfy ourselves and living instead to please God.

It's hard, and sometimes seems more trouble than it's worth. But when Jesus (the Creator of life) says that this will lead to true life (Mark 8:35), it's worth listening to.






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