Serving the Lord Jesus Christ faithfully even in trials

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Theme: "Serving the Lord Jesus Christ faithfully even in trials."

Text: Mark 8:34-38

34. Then he called the crowd together with his disciples and said to them, "If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? 37. What will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38. For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Let us remember:

Serving the Lord Jesus Christ faithfully would mean following God's will. Now, God's will is for everyone to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved. We must therefore seek out the lost sheep in their deepest recesses. This is also the mission Jesus set for himself and continues to pursue. Thus, he invites us to follow him and team up with him. We know that God's path is full of pitfalls. The evil one can never allow us to serve God faithfully and in complete peace. He will bring trials of all kinds to discourage us and then make us abandon him. Knowing the devil's wiles, Jesus calls us to vigilance and prudence. He warns all who would follow Him to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. Taking up the cross is symbolic of pain, suffering, separation, resilience, forgiveness, patience, self-abandonment, the supreme sacrifice, death, salvation, and eternal life. Carrying one's cross means enduring trials. Serving the Lord Jesus Christ faithfully means taking on trials without giving up. Serving the Lord Jesus Christ is not child's play. It is the most difficult work; fortunately, our Lord is also Savior; He never abandons us. There are those who leave the boat as soon as the waves begin. Others endure a little and then leave without a lifeline. Let us carry our cross, and if we fall, let us get up and go to Golgotha. Have a wonderful Thursday. Amen.

Alain Louz.-