Choosing Suffering

Matthew 5:38-48; Mark 8:27-38                 

Father,

The cross stands as a word of your devotion to your world.

  It speaks of your justice.

  It sings of your mercy.

  It trumpets your grace.

  And it calls us to come and die.

But we don’t want to.

  We are ashamed of it.

  We do not want to carry it.

  We want to be left alone in our ease and our comfort.

Remind us today that we can gain the whole world and yet forfeit our souls;

  That we can desire to save our lives yet lose them;

  And desire to lose our lives yet save them.

Build in us cross-shaped obedience.

  Enemy loving grace.

  Extravagant generosity.

  Miraculous forgiveness.

  And sacrificial service.

Amen