Mark 8:34-38 -- Deny yourself -- what you want, your agenda, your desired outcome. Those that deny themselves and seek solely the will of God are in short supply these days. Why is that? Is it because we want what's coming to us -- after all we've worked hard, don't we deserve it?
When I was in the 7th grade a substitute teacher gave us an assignment of writing a three page, double spaced paper on: "How I See the World". My paper was filled with comments about how everyone was for themselves -- that even though they seemed to sincerely care; really all they cared about was themselves. I got an "F" on that paper -- and the teacher told me in front of the class, how horrible it was -- that I was nothing but a pessimist. Now understand that I was growing up in the sixties; where racial tension was high -- where political division was quite prevalent -- this was how I saw the world.
Look around friends -- look at the world we live in. I don't see where a lot has changed. In a lot of ways; it has gotten worse (my opinion). Are we more worried about what we can gain or achieve; than we are about loving one another as we've been called to be. What are we exchanging for our soul? Instead of always standing up for what we believe; especially when it comes to our faith -- where do we compromise?
So yes, I guess I am a bit of a pessimist when it comes to human nature -- not that I do it all right, all the time. But here's what I know now that i did not know in the 7th grade: God is bigger than our selfishness -- He is bigger than our negativity towards our fellow man. My prayer is that when He returns we'll have a better handle on ourselves simply because we've submitted our life, our desires, our attitudes to Him -- and that we would not be ashamed of that. If we do that; then what we gain ; will far outweigh what we lose, even what we think is most important.
God Bless!!!