08/30/2026
Matthew 16:21-27 — Peter wanted to protect Jesus from suffering, but Jesus rebukes him hard: “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Then comes the harder truth — whoever wants to follow Him must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow. Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for His sake will find it.
That’s not a comfortable message, and it’s not supposed to be. We live in a world that chases comfort, convenience, and ease. But there’s something about waking up before daylight, sitting in the cold, giving up sleep and comfort for something bigger than ourselves, that starts to put this verse into perspective. Denying yourself isn’t about punishment — it’s about realizing comfort was never the goal.
What would it profit a man to gain everything this world offers and forfeit what actually matters? Out here, stripped of distractions, that question hits different.
Grateful for a faith that asks more of us than comfort. Grateful for the lessons this life keeps teaching us about what it actually means to follow.
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” — Matthew 16:25