Then he called his disciples and the people around him, and said to them, “If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps, he must give up all right to himself, take up his cross and follow me. The man who tries to save his life will lose it; it is the man who loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s who will save it. What good can it do a man to gain the whole world at the price of his own soul? What can a man offer to buy back his soul once he has lost it?

Mark 8:34-37 (Phillips)

 

I recently asked a close friend who had recovered from an illness what one crucial lesson he had learned during his ordeal. "A life not well lived is worse than death," he replied. It is an answer worth reflecting on, especially when most of us are rushing through life, without really realizing all that we are missing along the way. Often, it is when we are confronted by personal loss and tragedy that we start to think about where we are heading and which path to pursue in order to live a happier or more meaningful life.

Jesus once asked this question, “What good can it do a man to gain the whole world at the price of his own soul?” He was telling the crowd, and not just His disciples, about what it means to follow Him. We can become so caught up in chasing our dreams and goals that we don't realise how far we've gone until one day we couldn't recognise ourselves in the mirror.

What does a well-lived life look like?

A well-lived life is not about success or recognition or status. It is about living and thriving in healthy relationships with God, with others and with yourself.

Jesus is our perfect role model to follow if you desire a well-lived life.

 

And as Jesus continued to grow in body and mind, He grew also in the love of God and of those who knew Him.

Luke 2:52 (Phillips)

 

The gospel writer Luke tells us how Jesus learned to appreciate God's grace in his life, and how as He grew physically and intellectually, He also grew increasingly in favour with God and people. That is what the truth of the gospel will do for us if we just believe it. As we grow in our understanding of who Jesus is, what He has done for us, and how we ought to live, we will discover the genuine significance of our lives is connected to the greater purpose of God’s glory and to show forth His praise.

When we learn and grow with Jesus as our primary focus, we will see that a well-lived life is not only a gift we receive from the grace of God, but it is also a gift we can give to others as well as a gift we can give to ourselves.