Lose your life and find it in Christ!
Message
by, Courtney Visconti of Starr Ministries of America
Matthew 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
What
does this scripture in Matthew mean?
This scripture
is a great guideline and reference for us. If we are scrambling to take control over our lives and not letting the Lord’s
will be done, we are asking for trouble. In result, we will lose our lives. We can’t save ourselves, which is why Jesus
came to save us from our sins. This scripture tells us that if we lose our lives for Christ’s sake, we will find it.
One definition of the word Lose is: to give up; forfeit the possession of. As
Christians, we always need to make a conscious effort to do these things. Since your “life” isn’t something
you can simply ask someone to hide somewhere, so that you don’t find it, we need to consciously lose our lives, in order
that we may be found in Jesus.
How do we lose our lives?
▪
By denying the flesh and the things of this world!
1John2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone
loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world-the lust if the flesh, the lust of
the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of
it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
What do we need to lose, to gain Christ?
▪ All earthly things we posses and aim to posses.
Philippians
3:18 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have
suffered loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
In putting aside our pleasures, needs, wants, and desires, we are more in tune with what the Lord
wants and desires for us. Things of this world tend to hinder our relationship with Christ. They take away our time and communication
with Him. The bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6, that he rewards those who diligently seek him.
How do we need to act so that we may gain life through
Christ?
According to how the bible tells us we should!
▪ Follow the commandments!
Jesus tells us in Matthew
19:17: So he said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is God. But if you want to
enter into life, keep the commandments.”
The
commandments are:
- You shall have no other Gods before me. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul. With all your mind, and with all your strength. Mark 12:30
- You shall not make for yourself an idol.
- You shall not make wrongful
use of the name of your God.
- Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
- Honor your Father and Mother.
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness against
your neighbor.
- You shall not covet.
Paul tells us in Romans
13:9 …and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love
your neighbor as yourself.”
▪
Follow the words spoken to us in the books of the bible!
For example, Colossians3:12-16 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, if anyone has a
complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which
is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and
be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
How can we walk in His will?
When we seek and obey the Lord, and live our
lives according to the example he gave us, he makes it known to us His will for us.
Ephesians 1:9
He hath made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure
which He hath purposed in Himself.
