Now What?Sample

God loves losers; those willing to lose whatever stands between them and more of his presence and power in their life. What if following Jesus includes the letting go of our plans, our dreams, and things like our pride? When we read the words of Jesus in Matthew 16:25-25, we discover that following Christ includes the denial of self. He even says that when we want to save our life, we lose it. But if we choose to lose our life, we find it. Save it, you’ll lose it. Lose it, you’ll find it. When there’s loss, there’s grief. Many of us can relate to the grief that accompanies the loss of someone we love. We also grieve when losing things like a job or a home, or go through a divorce. There’s also another means of grief that’s good. Still painful, it’s a grief that’s purposeful. I call it ‘good grief.’ Good grief is the letting go of something in exchange for more fully following Jesus. What seems like the worst thing that could happen can turn into a time where God does his greatest work in us. ‘For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.’ When experiencing good grief, it’s good to know we’re not alone. They’re everywhere; people like Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Job, Rahab, Gideon, David, John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, John the Apostle, and many more who loved God, were greatly used by God, but often looked like a loser to those around them. They were imperfect people, following God’s call on their life while losing a great deal along the way, as if it were God’s plan from the start. God loves losers; those willing to lose whatever stands between them and more of his presence and power in their life. Consider This: Is there something in your life that’s getting in the way of your more fully following Jesus? Call it what it is. Confess it to him. Choose to lose it and you’ll experience more of Christ.