“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt 16:25; KJV). What Jesus was saying here was that if we stubbornly insist on doing things our way and pursuing only our own personal ambitions, we will lose life in Christ Jesus or the abundant life God planned for us (John 10:10).

In the passage, in Matt 16: 24-27, from which our first quote above was taken, Jesus exhorted us to sacrifice our own selfish ambitions (taking up our cross; v24) and to follow him. In verses 26-27 he posed the question as to the value of great material success and worldly recognition in the here and now, compared to salvation and God’s abundant life both now and eternally. I guess that’s a no brainier! 

Jesus assured us that if we make sacrifices for him and the Gospel in this life, we will receive rewards both in this life and the promise of eternal life (Mark 10:29-31). Jesus also promised in Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”. Living the God kind of life is easy, we just need to hear from God and do things his way. Is that an amen or an ouch?

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