Luke 9:23-26

All things, all talents, all security, all the people placed into our life, all things come from and belong to God. When we acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior it is our duty and privilege to hold Him up for all the world to see. We are to hold Him up and others will be drawn to the love He shows in giving up His life in exchange for ours. No greater love than this that God came down from His heavenly throne to save mankind from eternal separation from his maker.

 We must guard our hearts so that we do not become people pleasers… our life is to reflect His commands. 

And what does Jesus command us to do? We are to love God above everyone and everything and to love others with the same love that He has shown us.

Micah 6:8 (NKJV)

⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

Jesus’ disciples must be willing to follow Him every day, no matter what the cost. Those who embrace Jesus’ call to discipleship—including the difficulties it brings—will be saved. Faithlife Bible.

Although Jesus offered salvation as a free gift, He also warned that following Him would entail suffering and hardship.The wise course is to invest our earthly resources—our time, talents, and wealth—in what is eternal. Even if we lose our lives for Jesus’ sake, that investment will produce returns for all eternity. Recognition of Jesus will be rewarded in the coming judgment. Failure to recognize Him will lead to significant loss. NKJ Bible.

Luke 9:23–26 (NKJV)

²³ Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. ²⁵ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Matthew 16:26 (NKJV)

²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?