July 2

Mark 8:34‑35
“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”— Mark 8:34, 3534And 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. 35For 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. (Mark 8:34‑35).
SELF-ABNEGATION is the law of the kingdom of God. It is the meek who inherit the earth, the poor in spirit who are infinitely wealthy. In the service of Christ we gain by losing, live by dying, and receive by giving. Does this seem utterly opposed to what the world regards as sound wisdom? It is because the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (1 Cor. 1:2020Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Corinthians 1:20)), and the principles of action which natural men approve are absolutely opposed to those of Heaven.
The Bible abounds with instances of men who triumphed by seeming defeat. Consider Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, Paul, and pre-eminently our blessed Lord Himself.
On the other hand, how many there are whose sad failures illustrate the truth that “those that walk in pride He is able to abase” (Dan. 4:3737Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. (Daniel 4:37)). The names of Cain, Pharaoh, Ahab, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, and Pilate are only a few that might be cited.
It is the part of those who profess to be followers of Christ to share His rejection. Why should they expect recognition from a world that gave their Saviour a cross of shame? To faith there is no greater luxury than identification with Him in suffering and sorrow, that the life given up may prove to be a life preserved unto eternal glory.
“The cross on which our Lord expired.
Has won the crown for us!
In thankful fellowship with Him
We bear our daily cross.
Set free in grace—He vanquished him
Who held us in his chains—
But more than this, He shares with us
The fruit of all His pains.”
—W. Trotter.