What does it mean to you to lose your life? Have you given up something that is dear to you? Have you taken up your cross? Have you given up your preferences and accepted God’s desire for you?
Giving up something we like, and maybe addicted to, is very challenging. It doesn’t matter if it is an addiction to alcohol, drugs, food, attitude, or behavior. Giving up something we have been doing for a long time is difficult.
Jesus even tells us that we cannot love our own mother and father as much as we love Him. Now, that does not mean we cannot love them. It means just what Jesus says. We are to love Him more than them.
Giving up our own life also means giving up this world’s attitudes, behaviors, and desires. What are we prioritizing above God? What are we prioritizing above going to worship? What are we prioritizing above obeying God’s commands?
Giving those things up is giving up our life for Him. To truly find the joy in worshiping Him and to truly be a disciple, we must give it all up. Again, this doesn’t mean we cannot enjoy it. But it cannot be our priority. When we give those things up, we will live the abundant life Jesus promised us (John 10:10).
I pray we all make Jesus our priority. I pray we pick up our cross to follow Him. I pray each one of us is willing to lose our life in order to gain it in Jesus Christ. Give it all over to Jesus. Make Jesus your top priority. Choose Jesus over the world. Live the abundant life.
Matthew 10:37-39 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”
Marty Pressey 