The Benefits of Losing

Losing your life. Being crucified with Christ. Dying to self.

I don’t know about you, but when I hear these phrases quoted from Scripture, I sometimes cringe at the thought. Something tells me that living these out is not going to be a very pleasant experience...

Is the Christian walk really that difficult? Can’t we all just be happy and always smiling...it seems to work for Joel Osteen! ;)

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but that is not at all how the gospel that Jesus 

preached is described. 

“You will be hated by all because of My name...” 

Matthew 10:22

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are 

not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” 

John 17:14

Following Christ is not for the faint of heart. It is not always easy. Now, I am not trying to be all gloom and doom here, but this side of the gospel is so often overlooked. Why? Because it makes people uncomfortable. It’s not “happy.” It requires us take a good hard look at how we are living.

It gets back to that losing your life thing.

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for 

My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” 

Mark 8:35

Now, you may be more spiritual than I am, but when someone wants a show of hands of people who want to lose their life, I’m gonna keep my hands down as low as I can. But now that I am a child of God and a bondservant of Christ, this changes things. Or should.

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with 

its passions and desires.”

Galatians 5:24

“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.”

Galatians 2:20

It’s no longer about me. I died with Christ. The life I am now living is not my own but is through faith in Christ. 

This is a sacrifice, yes. But when you compare it with the last part of Galatians 2:20, it seems so small in comparison. Christ Jesus, the Son of God, gave Himself up for me. Why? He loved me. He forgave the debt of my sins that I could not pay, and granted me not only complete pardon, but also eternal life.

“My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!”

Why in the world would I ever find giving my life for Him in return a difficult decision? When I see my life in light of who Christ Jesus is, and in light of the sacrifice He made for me, my life is of nothing to me. Take it all, Jesus!

Yet, this is still a daily struggle for me. Of dying to my flesh. I have to fall before Him more frequently than I’m proud of, and beg Him to change me. To make me willing to die to my flesh and desires. I had to do it tonight.

But He always helps me and hears my prayers.

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4:16

He gave me mercy tonight. And made me willing to lose my life again, and caused this to be my heart’s prayer:

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John 3:30

Don't Be A Glory-Hog!

I can be a glory-hog. Not proud of it, but it’s true. 

Last night, I was reading in the gospel of Matthew and this verse really jumped out at me:

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

I’ve read this verse more times than I can count. And the song “This Little Light of Mine.” always plays in my head...no lie. But that’s beside the point. :)

Anyway, the last part of the verse is what really hit me. Why are we commanded to let our light shine before men in the first place? 

“...that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

God’s glory is the point! I thought I knew that, and it seems like a no-brainer when you actually think about it, but so many times my focus is completely off when I am “shining” my light through good deeds. My pride can get in the way and I practice righteousness to be seen by men (Matthew 6:1) ...thus trying to bring glory to myself. 

How does the Lord feel about this?

“I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another...” (Isaiah 42:8)

“...and My glory I will not give to another.” (Isaiah 48:11)

Glory is not something that the Lord shares. And how dare I ever try and take it from Him! Why is it so easy for me to lose sight of my purpose? God created me for HIS glory, and not for my own. I am made righteous through Jesus Christ for HIS glory. And any good deed that I do, or any fruit that I bear is for HIM.

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:8)

“For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:15)

It just comes down to this: it’s all about Him. Everything I do, every word I speak, every person I share with, every good deed I ever do is for Him.

 Sounds simple, and it is. But my sinful heart and my pride get in the way every single day. 

 Lord, let me live for Your glory! You dwell inside of me 

and produce every good and decent thing in me. I am 

merely an earthen vessel used to hold an invaluable 

Treasure (2 Corinthians 4:7). Let me not lose sight of 

what I was before You saved me, and the person You 

are making me today is all because of You. I am SO 

thankful for You and what Jesus Christ did for me. 

To You be the glory!