Lost and found

Matthew 10:39 AMPC

Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].

It's amazing the lengths folks will go in order to cling on to this physical life.

Follow rules, give up freedoms, compromise on beliefs etc etc.

Also there are micro decisions we make each and every day to put Jesus first or my own comforts and will.

What Jesus is speaking about is explained better via the Amplified translation.

In trying to cling on to the self interested life at all costs leads to losing eternal life.

Yet losing the self interested life by putting Jesus first leads to finding eternal life.

Some believers around the globe right now are actually losing their lives because of Jesus.

People who dare to convert from Islam will often pay with their lives - even suffering death at the hands of their own family members via "honour killings".

In other countries such as China, to believe in Jesus endangers their lives and family members too. There is torture and imprisonment to put on pressure to recant.

Perhaps we too may be called to face persecution for our faith in these days of woke cancel culture? Who knows what lies ahead in what can be construed as hate speech?

One thing is certain God will give grace as we put Him first.

Let's pause and remember our fellow believers who are losing their lives because of Jesus and pray for their protection and courage.

Matthew 5:10 AMPC

Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God's favour and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!