“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].”
Matthew 16:24 AMP
Over 30 ago there was a popular TV game show called “Supermarket Sweep.” The format combined an ordinary team-based quiz show with the concept of a live, timed race through a supermarket. In the timed race, cameras would follow the teams with shopping carts through a large vacated supermarket with several aisles; the ‘value’ of items thrown into the cart determined the winning team. It was a “get what you can get, grab what you can get” in a certain amount of time. The team with the highest price of groceries in their cart, wins.In a similar way, the world promotes a “Supermarket Sweep” life today. Our world says “get all you can get, it’s all about you, acquire and accumulate all the success and toys you can get before life ends.” Power, power, and more power. Whoever has the most toys, wins. The world says “save your own life, run over anyone who gets in your way of success, position or fame.”However, Jesus was just the opposite. He made it very clear that we must deny ourselves by putting aside our own self-centered, self-interest. Jesus says to care for others first. To look out for others' interests first, before our own. To die to our own selfish, fleshly desires. To “take up our cross daily, and follow Him.” As a disciple of Jesus, that is a life that brings great glory to God.“For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].” Matthew 16:25 AMPAllow me to gently remind you today, don’t live a “Supermarket Sweep” life. Rather, live a life that will make an eternal impact on the lives of others around you, by leaving a legacy that will far out live you when you are gone.Love God! Love People! Live Sent!Be Worth Being,KevinSUBSCRIBE TO "OVER THE HUMP" DEVOTIONALKevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 42 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.
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