Mark 8:34-38: And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Public “altar calls” are intended to be times for the people of God to respond to The Lord after hearing the message that was shared that day. Have you noticed the content of the various altar calls that Jesus gave to the multitudes? Let’s look at a few of them today. Picture yourself sitting in the crowd and being confronted with these heart-challenging questions. I suggest to you, beloved, that even though these commands or demands of Jesus are not often spoken of today in evangelical circles, they are as valid today as they were the day that Jesus spoke them.
When we hear the call given from The Master, ask The Holy Spirit to illuminate them to you. What did Jesus say? What did Jesus mean? What does it mean to deny myself? What does it mean to take up my cross? What does it mean to lose my life for the sake of the gospel? What does it mean to be ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we prepared for His glorious return? Selah
