LOSE TO SAVE OR SAVE TO LOSE - Devotional

 

PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY - MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT.

June 7th, 2025

LOSE TO FIND OR FIND TO LOSE (Mark 8:35)
To understand this paradox and not take it out of context, we need to read and digest the incident of Mark 8:31-33."Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. [32] As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. [33] Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” (NLT)

Naturally, the natural man is afraid to die. Talking about death becomes a sacred issue and to talk about death openly is almost like abomination. Hence Peter's rebuke. But Jesus knew He had to drink the cup of suffering, lose His life so that the human race can find and preserve their souls/lives.
"If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it." (Mrk.8.35.NLT)
(Peter wanted Jesus to save His own life and not die). This is also the desire of everyone of us before we come into understanding. FEAR IS THE OPPOSITE OF FAITH. But in reality, we will all die - and for what?

Losing one's life must be PURPOSEFUL and in this case, "FOR MY SAKE - JESUS' SAKE, AND THE GOOD NEWS", it is SPECIFIC. "For you died to this life, and YOUR REAL LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH Christ in God." (Col.3.3.NLT)(LOST BUT FOUND) In other words, "Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth...............And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." (Col.3.2&4.NLT)

It is like the parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10). When it was found, there was a celebration. The whole of human race was once lost and Jesus came to lead the whole race back home. Whosoever trust Him with his/her life will find it and there will be celebration in heaven. You once lost your life, now give it up again but for a better course in Jesus Christ.

THE WORD: "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? [37] Is anything worth more than your soul?" (Mark.8.36-37.NLT)

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