"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?" Luke 9:24-2
For every person you may ask about what their lives are about, you are likely to get a different answer. Somewhere on the list of many, however, is to gain. Whether it is to gain material possessions, prestige, financial independence, a loving family, a great job, an education or any number of other things, it is all about improving one's position.
Interestingly enough, Jesus said that we must, in fact, be willing to lose our lives. To be sure, it is destined for us all to pass away at some point, but he is speaking figuratively. We must be willing to die to ourselves. This means that we and the things we desire cannot continue to be the center of our lives and the purpose for living. In dying to ourselves, we willingly relinquish that space to him. Paul famously said,"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Gal 2:20
Beloved, it is only when we crucify the "old man" (ourselves) that we can truly live. The lives we lived before Christ were filled only with earthly hope if any at all. In Christ, our hope and trust is in the eternal. That said, there is plenty of life to be lived on this side of the great transition. Christ came that we might have life and that, more abundantly. Those unwilling to lose their lives for their own sake, in service to the Lord, risk losing the eternal life he has made available. All that has been gained by holding on to the temporal, will likewise be lost. What profit indeed?
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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