Brass Tacks

Brass Tacks
Words of Faith 1-12-2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 8
[34] Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [35] For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. [36] What good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul? [37] Or what can a man give in exchange for his 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 him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

There is a phrase in English that we use sometimes-- "getting down to brass tacks." It means getting serious about something and getting to the bottom of the situation.
No one knows for sure where the phrase came from. Some suggest that storekeepers precisely measured fabric using brass tacks on a table. Others suggest that sailors were required to clean a ship's bottom until they got to the brass bolts. Whatever the source, when we get down to brass tacks, it means we get to the essence of a matter.
Jesus was getting down to brass tacks here. He had been clear with Peter. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." So, how do we walk as disciples of Jesus? Here are the brass tacks.
The correct response of a disciple is self-denial, cross-bearing, and submission. Our natural posture is quite different-- one of self-promotion, cross-avoidance, and rebellion.
The decision could not be more clearly outlined. Discipleship could not have been more succinctly defined. Saving your life will cause you to lose it. Losing your life for Christ and the Gospel will save it. In eternity, there will be no profit whatsoever should we lose our souls in this adulterous and sinful generation.
Questions about eternity must be pointed. There is no dodging this examination by Jesus. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul? This is the timeless question of discipleship. Gaining the whole world at the cost of one's soul is the greatest tragedy of all.
Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? There will not be an admission booth in eternity. You will not be able to negotiate your way into grace when grace has not been received freely by faith.
And a final point. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels. It doesn't get more pointed than that.
Be careful in those moments when you are tempted to drop your head at the name of Jesus or compromise His teaching. Be cautious about subtly editing Jesus out of your public discourse. You may think no one notices your reluctance to claim the Name of Jesus, but He sees.
No one said discipleship would be easy. Yes, it is a work that He does in you, but it is never easy.

Lord, I confess the sins of self-promotion, cross-avoidance, and rebellion. I choose this day to be a disciple. I choose to deny myself. I choose to take up whatever cross You put in my path. I choose to follow You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.