Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:39 NIV
On the surface, this verse would seem to make little sense. If you find your life, you will lose it. On the other hand, if you lose your life for Jesus’ sake, you will find it.
But there are two distinct lives that Jesus is referring to here. The first is my life in the flesh with its physical appetites and human desires. The second is the eternal life that Jesus gives to those who take up their cross and follow him (Matt. 10:38).
If I cling to my old life, I will miss out on the new life that Jesus offers me. But if I give up this life in the flesh, I will find new life in Christ. I cannot have both.
Losing my old life does not have to involve physical martyrdom. But it does mean that I surrender control of my life to the Lordship of Jesus. It means I no longer live for myself, seeking to satisfy my own appetites and desires. Instead, I live under his authority,…
