2 passages

 I couldn't decide which of these 2 passages to share, so I'm sharing both. 😁

Mark 8

34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, (Jesus) said, 

“If any of you wants to be my follower, 

you must give up your own way, 

take up your cross, 

and follow me. 

35 If you try to hang on to your life, 

you will lose it. 

But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, 

you will save it. 

36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world 

but lose your own soul? 

37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 

38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, 

the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person 

when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Hebrews 4

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. 

It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, 

cutting between soul and spirit, 

between joint and marrow. 

It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. 

Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, 

and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, 

Jesus the Son of God, 

let us hold firmly to what we believe. 

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, 

for he faced all of the same testings we do, 

yet he did not sin. 

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. 

There we will receive his mercy, 

and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.