Choose to Lose
Good Morning Friends,
Jesus taught that you have to lose yourself to find yourself. What do you think he meant?Jesus taught that you have to lose yourself to find yourself. What do you think he meant? Do you think it might have something to do with how John the Baptist lived his life…how Paul lived his? Even before John and Paul found themselves in prison about to lose their heads, evidence would support that their glimpse of God had prepared them to make a commitment to Choose to Lose. Matthew 10:39
Scripture: Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:39 (NIV)
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
Acts 20:24 (NIV)
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
Matthew 11:2-6 (NRSV)
They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”
John 3:26-30 (NIV)
Message: The great mystery of the Christian walk is that the more we lose the more God wins. Not many leaders would have the humble words of John the Baptist. But this forerunner of Jesus, this herald of the king, Jesus’ cousin… who had known Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit even in his mother’s womb… still had doubts. He had to fight the desire to cling to earthly power and purpose. Maybe that is why Jesus says he is the least in the Kingdom of God. Friends, perhaps to be great men we too are to surrender to our own poverty and acknowledge our own nothingness so we can lean against and rest in the backdrop of God’s love. Here we might discover our true destiny. Here, as we learn to love others as they are, not as we would have them be, we might find our true selves in the Kingdom of God. As John was coming to his earthly end he was in a difficult circumstance and had doubts. He wondered if he had made a mistake. The beauty is that he honestly faced them. John the Baptist doubted because of worldly influences, unfulfilled expectations and incomplete knowledge but was blessed not to stumble. Friends, life throws us a curve ball from time to time. It is here we might learn some difficult lessons that at first might confuse us. Friends, John the Baptist lost himself, was last, served others, became less, was humble, gave much, and denied himself – and at the end of his earthly life may have come to the same conclusions as Paul.
Pray we know that God’s love is so brilliant that no darkness can penetrate it. Pray we realize that the peace Jesus brings is more complex than we realize. Pray we realize that Jesus poses some really difficult questions but that it is all right to ask some in return. Pray we never stop growing in the knowledge and wisdom of the Word made flesh. Pray we put away our doubts. Pray we choose to lose so we might find. Pray we choose to be last so we might be first. Pray we choose to serve so God might call us great. Pray we choose humility so we might be lifted up. Pray we choose to give so we might receive. Pray we realize that God is in control. Pray we realize that we must become less and less so God can become more and more. Pray we deny ourselves so we might follow Jesus. Pray we do not falter when Christ does not act according to our preconceived plans. Pray we find joy in the work of the Holy Spirit.
Daily Devotionals 