How to Lose or Save Your Life

 N.T.#195 "How to Lose or Save Your Life"

Nov. 30, 2023

Matthew 16-Part 11

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. (verse 25)

LET IT GLOW

Have you crucified yourself in order for Christ to have lordship over you? Real discipleship requires real commitment-pledging our whole existence to His service. 

Looking deeper into the above verse: save means deliver or protect; preserve; lose means destroy; find means get, obtain, perceive, see.

Christ commands His followers to lose our life for His sake. We are to deliberately release our life to God and His kingdom. The things dear to us may stand between us and God's will. God may want to send us to another city while sacrificing our being near children and grandchildren. If a distressing call comes in the night, we may have to sacrifice our rest to help. He may require our possessions so we can do His purpose. 

Is there anything we need to release to God? Remember, denying self isn't easy. (previous post)

If we want to run our life, then we find we will lose the life we are looking for. On the other hand, if we totally identify with Jesus and love according to His agenda, we find the abundant life we never knew was possible. (John 10:10)

LET IT GROW

Jesus did not look at the comforts of heaven as a right He should hold onto; nor did He see leaving all that was His as a sacrifice too costly to make. (Philippians 2:5-11)

As a result, God highly exalted Him and brought salvation to a broken world. 

Are you trying to save your life? If so, you may be actually losing the life God wants you to have.

When we give our life to Christ, we discover the real purpose of living. We gain spiritual blessings and the peace that makes life worthwhile. (verse 26)

LET IT GO

Help us surrender today what You want, Lord Jesus.