After reading the conversation Jesus had with His disciples in Matthew 16, a question popped into my head:  “How valuable are my values?”

Jesus said, “Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me.  Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will find them.  What good will it do for people to win the whole world and lose their lives? Or what will a person give in exchange for life?  The Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory. Then he will pay back each person based on what that person has done (Matthew 16:24-27).”

The verses above allow a person to draw several conclusions:

• Jesus has a greater concern for the size and character of my heart than He does for the square footage and décor of my house.
• Jesus wants me to focus more on the compassion I display and less on my social status.
• Jesus isn’t worried about the promotions I’ve received, but He does want me to be pro-motion in the help I give.
• Jesus will not judge me based on the way I’ve protected my rights but on the way I helped those who have been wronged.

To make a difference in the day and hour in which you live, you need to be different in the way you craft each second of your life.   You need to pick up your cross and follow Jesus.  By losing your life in Him and for Him, you discover the purpose He has for you; and, your values become valuable.