Keep Winning - Lose to Gain
KEEP WINNING: Losing to Gain
In a world obsessed with winning, success, and accumulation, we often overlook a profound spiritual truth: sometimes, the path to true winning requires us to lose first. This paradoxical concept lies at the heart of Jesus' teachings and challenges our conventional understanding of what it means to succeed in life.
The Ultimate Exchange
"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." - Matthew 10:39 (NIV)
These words of Jesus expresses a revolutionary perspective on life and purpose. At first glance, they might seem kind of crazy, not Maning any sense. How can losing lead to winning? How can giving up everything result in gaining more than we could imagine?
The key lies in understanding what we're losing and what we're gaining. When Jesus speaks of losing our life, He's not advocating for physical harm or reckless abandonment of responsibilities. Instead, He's inviting us into a profound spiritual transformation – a letting go of our old selves, our selfish ambitions, and our worldly attachments in exchange for something far greater.
Acknowledging Christ: The First Step to Winning
"Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." - Matthew 10:32-33 (NIV)
The journey of losing to win begins with a simple yet powerful act: acknowledging Christ. This public declaration of faith is more than just words; it's a commitment to align our lives with His teachings and purposes. It's a willingness to stand firm in our beliefs, even when faced with opposition or ridicule.
By acknowledging Christ, we're not losing our identity – we're finding our true selves. We're stepping into the purpose for which we were created, and in doing so, we gain the ultimate acknowledgment: recognition from God Himself.
Transforming Our Minds
"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." - Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Losing our old life to gain a new one in Christ involves a radical shift in our thinking. It's not enough to simply change our outward behavior; we must allow God to renew our minds from the inside out. This transformation challenges us to question the values and priorities of the world around us and to align our thoughts with God's perspective.
As we submit our minds to God's transforming work, we begin to see life through a new lens. What once seemed important may fade into insignificance, while things we previously overlooked take on new meaning and value.
The Paradox of Discipleship
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." - Luke 9:23 (NIV)
Following Jesus isn't a path to easy success or worldly comfort. It's a daily commitment to self-denial and sacrifice. This might seem like a losing proposition in the eyes of the world, but it's the very essence of winning in God's kingdom.
When we deny ourselves, we create space for God to work in and through us. We let go of our limited human perspective and tap into the infinite wisdom and power of our Creator. In losing our self-centered ambitions, we gain a purpose far greater than we could have imagined for ourselves.
The True Measure of Greatness
"Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all." - Mark 9:35 (NIV)
In God's economy, the path to greatness is paved with humility and service. This stands in severe contrast to the world's definition of success, which often prioritizes personal achievement and recognition above all else.
By choosing to serve others, we lose our sense of entitlement and self-importance. But in that loss, we gain something far more valuable: the heart of Christ Himself, who came not to be served, but to serve and give His life for others. Hello somebody!
Investing in Eternity
"If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." - Matthew 19:21 (NLT)
Jesus challenges us to loosen our grip on material possessions and invest in things of eternal value. This doesn't necessarily mean selling everything we own, but it does require a shift in our priorities and a willingness to be generous with what we have.
When we give freely and sacrificially, we might feel like we're losing out in the short term. But in reality, we're making deposits in an account that will never depreciate or be stolen – our treasure in heaven.
The Principle of Multiplication
"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives." - John 12:24 (NLT)
Nature itself teaches us the principle of losing to gain. A seed must be buried and "die" before it can sprout and produce a harvest. I gave an example at our church that I want a cherry tomato harvest of blessings- so as a seed must die to become a new plant In the same way, there are parts of our old selves that must die so that new life can emerge.
This principle applies to every area of our lives – our time, our resources, our comfort zones. When we're willing to "lose" these things for the sake of Christ and His kingdom, we open ourselves up to a multiplication of impact and blessing that far exceeds what we gave up. Hallelujah!
Embracing the Paradox
Living out this paradox of losing to win isn't easy. It goes against our natural instincts and the messages bombarding us from society. But for those who embrace it, there's a promise of abundance beyond measure:
"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." - Matthew 19:29 (NIV)
The invitation is clear: let go of what holds you back, surrender your life to Christ, and watch as He transforms your losses into the greatest win of all – eternal life and purpose in Him.
As we navigate life's challenges and opportunities, may we have the courage to lose what doesn't matter so that we can gain what truly does. In doing so, we'll discover that in Christ, we're not just winning – we're winning for eternity. Amen!
In a world obsessed with winning, success, and accumulation, we often overlook a profound spiritual truth: sometimes, the path to true winning requires us to lose first. This paradoxical concept lies at the heart of Jesus' teachings and challenges our conventional understanding of what it means to succeed in life.
The Ultimate Exchange
"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." - Matthew 10:39 (NIV)
These words of Jesus expresses a revolutionary perspective on life and purpose. At first glance, they might seem kind of crazy, not Maning any sense. How can losing lead to winning? How can giving up everything result in gaining more than we could imagine?
The key lies in understanding what we're losing and what we're gaining. When Jesus speaks of losing our life, He's not advocating for physical harm or reckless abandonment of responsibilities. Instead, He's inviting us into a profound spiritual transformation – a letting go of our old selves, our selfish ambitions, and our worldly attachments in exchange for something far greater.
Acknowledging Christ: The First Step to Winning
"Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." - Matthew 10:32-33 (NIV)
The journey of losing to win begins with a simple yet powerful act: acknowledging Christ. This public declaration of faith is more than just words; it's a commitment to align our lives with His teachings and purposes. It's a willingness to stand firm in our beliefs, even when faced with opposition or ridicule.
By acknowledging Christ, we're not losing our identity – we're finding our true selves. We're stepping into the purpose for which we were created, and in doing so, we gain the ultimate acknowledgment: recognition from God Himself.
Transforming Our Minds
"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." - Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Losing our old life to gain a new one in Christ involves a radical shift in our thinking. It's not enough to simply change our outward behavior; we must allow God to renew our minds from the inside out. This transformation challenges us to question the values and priorities of the world around us and to align our thoughts with God's perspective.
As we submit our minds to God's transforming work, we begin to see life through a new lens. What once seemed important may fade into insignificance, while things we previously overlooked take on new meaning and value.
The Paradox of Discipleship
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." - Luke 9:23 (NIV)
Following Jesus isn't a path to easy success or worldly comfort. It's a daily commitment to self-denial and sacrifice. This might seem like a losing proposition in the eyes of the world, but it's the very essence of winning in God's kingdom.
When we deny ourselves, we create space for God to work in and through us. We let go of our limited human perspective and tap into the infinite wisdom and power of our Creator. In losing our self-centered ambitions, we gain a purpose far greater than we could have imagined for ourselves.
The True Measure of Greatness
"Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all." - Mark 9:35 (NIV)
In God's economy, the path to greatness is paved with humility and service. This stands in severe contrast to the world's definition of success, which often prioritizes personal achievement and recognition above all else.
By choosing to serve others, we lose our sense of entitlement and self-importance. But in that loss, we gain something far more valuable: the heart of Christ Himself, who came not to be served, but to serve and give His life for others. Hello somebody!
Investing in Eternity
"If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." - Matthew 19:21 (NLT)
Jesus challenges us to loosen our grip on material possessions and invest in things of eternal value. This doesn't necessarily mean selling everything we own, but it does require a shift in our priorities and a willingness to be generous with what we have.
When we give freely and sacrificially, we might feel like we're losing out in the short term. But in reality, we're making deposits in an account that will never depreciate or be stolen – our treasure in heaven.
The Principle of Multiplication
"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives." - John 12:24 (NLT)
Nature itself teaches us the principle of losing to gain. A seed must be buried and "die" before it can sprout and produce a harvest. I gave an example at our church that I want a cherry tomato harvest of blessings- so as a seed must die to become a new plant In the same way, there are parts of our old selves that must die so that new life can emerge.
This principle applies to every area of our lives – our time, our resources, our comfort zones. When we're willing to "lose" these things for the sake of Christ and His kingdom, we open ourselves up to a multiplication of impact and blessing that far exceeds what we gave up. Hallelujah!
Embracing the Paradox
Living out this paradox of losing to win isn't easy. It goes against our natural instincts and the messages bombarding us from society. But for those who embrace it, there's a promise of abundance beyond measure:
"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." - Matthew 19:29 (NIV)
The invitation is clear: let go of what holds you back, surrender your life to Christ, and watch as He transforms your losses into the greatest win of all – eternal life and purpose in Him.
As we navigate life's challenges and opportunities, may we have the courage to lose what doesn't matter so that we can gain what truly does. In doing so, we'll discover that in Christ, we're not just winning – we're winning for eternity. Amen!
Recent
Archive
2025
Categories
no categories
No Comments