Mark 8:27-38 NRSV
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world. In and through you alone can salvation be found, “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 NKJV).
May my life give evidence of such a great salvation.
May my life not deserve your rebuke because I seek to subvert or shortcut your ways and your plans.
May I be a genuine follower of you, denying my own desires and following your example of cross-bearing.
May I not be concerned with preserving my reputation or even my life, but may I be willing to lay everything down for the sake of obeying and honoring you.
Lord Jesus, I do not want you to be ashamed of me, either now or at your return. Help me to live boldly and courageously in these days of great apostasy in the church and rebellion against you all over the world.
May my life hallow your name and advance the coming of your kingdom and the doing of your will here where I am, just as it is in heaven.
Amen.

Lord of the Dance
https://youtu.be/ZsRE37jpUOw?si=dTsFqaPUe_T6TDJU

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).