Key Bible Verse: "If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake &… you will find true life" (Mark 8:35). Bonus Reading:Daniel 3:8–18

I heard of a Vietnamese pastor who, as the Vietnam War was coming to a close, made a long journey on foot from his village to what was then known as Saigon. Like many other Christians, he was seeking a chance to leave Vietnam for security in a Western country. I don't think this was wrong. But, as he came near to Saigon, he realized that for him the call of God was to remain with his people. So he turned and went back to his village, to the prospects of danger, hunger, loneliness, and even death. He was willing to die and didn't think going back was a waste. He knew that when God calls us to die, He is opening the door to real life.

To die doing the will of God is, in the final reckoning, the gateway to life. That's why total commitment is no great achievement on our part. Because God is sovereign, when we make what seems like a big sacrifice, it's no sacrifice at all. We can willingly give up everything we've gained for the sake of obedience to God, knowing that life and victory await us in the end.