To the Ends of the Earth: Legacy – Week 9, Day 1 – Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross, and Follow Christ

Mark C. McCann | 06/02/2025

While we were staying for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “The will of the Lord be done.”

Acts 21:10–14

For Catholics there can be no compromise when it comes to following Jesus. There are no halfway commitments, no hedging our bets. Like Paul, we must be willing to lay down our lives joyfully for the Lord. For most of us, this will not involve being executed for our beliefs. But it could very well mean enduring ridicule, the loss of friends, and personal suffering along the way of our salvation. Though many people speak of taking up our cross as some kind of personalized trial made especially for us, the central call of the cross is to surrender ourselves to the cause of Christ, to walk the rough road of life and to count it all joy (Jas 1:2).

We are to be living sacrifices to God (Rom 12:1), daily offering up our lives to the One who saved us from sin. Every word and deed for the Catholic man is meant to be a form of worship. We are called to lay our prayers, our actions, and our very lives on the altar of heaven, as we build the legacy of our faith for those who are members of the Church now and those who will come after us. We are servants who carry the Gospel to all people as we live out our salvation with joy.

Questions for reflection

How willing would you be to lay down your physical life for the Gospel?

In what ways are you laying down your life daily as a living sacrifice to please God?

How does taking up your cross daily help to lead others closer to Christ?

Praying with Scripture

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph 5:1–2)

You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE

You can watch and listen to this devotion HERE

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About the Author

Mark C. McCann

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Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.