Friday - The Life You Were Made For

Luke 9:23-24: "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."

Luke 9:23 lays out three hard things Jesus asks of anyone who wants to follow Him: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him daily. Jesus knew those terms would sound costly, so He doesn't stop there. In the very next verse, He tells us why it's worth it: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it" (Luke 9:24).

Here's the paradox: the person who tries to save his own life, who clings to control, comfort, and self-rule, will ultimately waste it. But the person who gives his life fully to Christ will discover the life he was created to live. Jesus isn't trying to take life away from you. He's showing you where real life is found.

You may lose some comfort. You may lose the approval of others. You may have to give up your own way. But you will never lose by giving your life completely to Jesus Christ.

Takeaway: You can't out-give Jesus; losing your life for His sake is the only way to actually find it.