Day 26
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Matthew 16:21-28

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Paradox and irony are strewn throughout the Scriptures—the older serves the younger, the less attractive advances and the beautiful diminishes, the weak overcoming the strong, suffering leads to hope, having nothing but possessing everything—just to name a few.  It’s more than just literary themes through a story, it’s the way that God operates in the world and in our lives.  That is why, as far as it is most immediate for you and me, this statement of Jesus speaks to the very meaning of life itself.  It’s not jumping on the grenade to save your buddies, nor other noble altruisms nor pietistic self-denials.  These are tangible and a burden of guilt may simmer if one were act only in self-interest.  But, losing one’s life, is to let go of priority for myself for the sake of a future, intangible benefit.  It’s to follow Jesus to the cross and die with him in faith that God will resurrect us.

This is magnetic north, isn’t it?  If my soul were to be discipled away from just mere information about the Bible, about Jesus, and actually follow him to the cross, trusting in who he is, then that would change everything.  The more I could lose my life for the sake of Jesus, the more my family and those around me would benefit, and the less self-agenda and control I would have.  Life 2.0.  

Lord, I want to experience and find the kind of life that only you can bring.  Oh, Lord, that I might lose my life for your sake!