May 16, 2016 FINDING BY LOSING
Matthew 16:25: “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.”
What a paradox! Often, the truths presented in the scriptures are in stark contrast to the nature of man, and this verse is certainly no exception. A great motivation force, or drive in man is that of self-preservation, so the idea of losing one’s life is contradictory to basic human nature. Man wants to be in control, and man is on a constant mission to secure provisions for himself, to “find his life,” and to find happiness and fulfillment. Sad to say, but if this is the mission in life, the mission will fail, and the life we are seeking will not be found, even though we sought it with all our might. In Isaiah 55:8 God clearly tells us that His ways or not the same as ours: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. God has designed life in such a way that the desires of man and the longings of his heart can be realized and fulfilled only in Him. It is true that a person who does not know God can find or experience what they would call happiness or fulfilment, but it is temporary and it does not compare to the lasting joy and fulfillment that comes from God. The core issue revolves around the will of man and who he chooses to yield himself to-God or self. God desires that we experience fulfillment and a sense of completeness and He has made provision for us to experience all that He has for us. God has given a hew heart and a new mind to those who have put their trust in Him, and out of their new hearts and minds, they can live life as God designed and by doing so, will experience life to the fullest. Living as new creations, we will discover that it is more blessed to give than to receive; that knowing and following the Lord is far better than following self; that living out of the love that God has placed in our hearts is better than being focused on self; and that the peace and joy that God gives cannot be found anywhere else. In fact, we will find that all that Jesus taught and all that God has spoken through the scriptures are the ways that lead to life, whereas the ways of man lead to death. One who does not know God may involve himself in good deeds, such as feeding the hungry, etc, and they may “feel” good about what they have done. However, only those who lose their life for His sake shall find the abundant, overflowing life that comes only from God. To lose our life for His sake involves embracing His word as truth and light, and living according to His word and His ways. It means turning from trusting in ourselves to trusting God and all that He has done and said. Jesus came to a lost, dark world demonstrating life in the kingdom of God and it was in great contrast to life in the world. The life that Jesus demonstrated is available to every believer, but in order to experience that life, we must die to ourselves- that is, lose our lives for His sake. Once we “lose our life” for His sake, He then fills us with His life and we then for the first time live according to how God designed us. Let us be quick to lose our life-He has something much better in mind.
John 10:10: “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly”
Blessings,
Buddy
Matthew 16:25: “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.”
What a paradox! Often, the truths presented in the scriptures are in stark contrast to the nature of man, and this verse is certainly no exception. A great motivation force, or drive in man is that of self-preservation, so the idea of losing one’s life is contradictory to basic human nature. Man wants to be in control, and man is on a constant mission to secure provisions for himself, to “find his life,” and to find happiness and fulfillment. Sad to say, but if this is the mission in life, the mission will fail, and the life we are seeking will not be found, even though we sought it with all our might. In Isaiah 55:8 God clearly tells us that His ways or not the same as ours: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. God has designed life in such a way that the desires of man and the longings of his heart can be realized and fulfilled only in Him. It is true that a person who does not know God can find or experience what they would call happiness or fulfilment, but it is temporary and it does not compare to the lasting joy and fulfillment that comes from God. The core issue revolves around the will of man and who he chooses to yield himself to-God or self. God desires that we experience fulfillment and a sense of completeness and He has made provision for us to experience all that He has for us. God has given a hew heart and a new mind to those who have put their trust in Him, and out of their new hearts and minds, they can live life as God designed and by doing so, will experience life to the fullest. Living as new creations, we will discover that it is more blessed to give than to receive; that knowing and following the Lord is far better than following self; that living out of the love that God has placed in our hearts is better than being focused on self; and that the peace and joy that God gives cannot be found anywhere else. In fact, we will find that all that Jesus taught and all that God has spoken through the scriptures are the ways that lead to life, whereas the ways of man lead to death. One who does not know God may involve himself in good deeds, such as feeding the hungry, etc, and they may “feel” good about what they have done. However, only those who lose their life for His sake shall find the abundant, overflowing life that comes only from God. To lose our life for His sake involves embracing His word as truth and light, and living according to His word and His ways. It means turning from trusting in ourselves to trusting God and all that He has done and said. Jesus came to a lost, dark world demonstrating life in the kingdom of God and it was in great contrast to life in the world. The life that Jesus demonstrated is available to every believer, but in order to experience that life, we must die to ourselves- that is, lose our lives for His sake. Once we “lose our life” for His sake, He then fills us with His life and we then for the first time live according to how God designed us. Let us be quick to lose our life-He has something much better in mind.
John 10:10: “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly”
Blessings,
Buddy
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