Troubles for God's people

Mark 8:34-38

The disciples were thinking too much about their own lives. Instead, they should think about God. And they should try to obey him.

There will be many troubles for people who obey God. Many people will be against them. Sometimes people die because they believe God. But they are not wasting their lives. Nobody who gives something to God is wasting that gift. But a person who loves money is wasting his life. A person who loves the things in this world is wasting his life. Even a person who rules the world gets nothing. That is clear because that person must die. And when that person dies, he loses everything.

So people must not be ashamed that they believe God. They must not be ashamed when people are against them. They should remember that Jesus will return. On that day, he will be beautiful and powerful, like God the Father. And the angels will be with him.

But even before that will happen, God has begun to rule his people. He rules the lives of the people who believe him. He has saved them, and he has made them his people.