Be Still And Know

Mark 8:34-35 Jesus’ breath taking honesty is very striking. Day by day, we are constantly being encouraged to sign up to organisations which can improve our health, wealth or general well-being. Their marketing is slick, highly polished and calculated to get us to sign up to their products or services. They help us to dream of a happier and more successful life and cram in every attractive and glossy image to lure us into signing up. But Jesus took a completely different approach. He spoke straight to people about the costs of following him. It reminds me of Winston Churchill who, during the second world war, offered people “blood, toil, tears and sweat”. I am firmly convinced that living for Christ is the most amazing and wonderful life. I would recommend it to anyone. But that doesn’t mean that it’s easy. From day one, Jesus wanted his followers to know that he was going to completely change their approach to life. If they wanted to hang on to their old way of life, that’s what they should do. Jesus was