34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38

I haven’t read this passage in a long time, but after reading it now, one phrase comes to mind:

All or nothing.

The late singer Keith Green had a line in one of his songs, “If you can’t come to Me [Jesus] every day, then don’t bother coming at all.”

That is a radical faith. I do see it clearly in the Scripture above.

If you want to be His disciple, you’ve got to do this. Period.

We all wish it were toned down a bit, softened to accommodate those of us with weak wills.

I’ll say it again, this is a radical faith.

All or nothing.