Have you ever considered that following Christ is “for losers?” Well, you may shout out that my thesis is disrespectful and indicting to the Christian faith. However, I believe you will agree with me if you read the rest of this blog. Here is my core text to justify what I am stating:
Mark 8 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
St. Mark states straightforwardly that you must be willing to give your life up to follow Christ losing control of it to the Lord and for the glory of the gospel.
Paul the apostle was willing. Let’s look at what he gave up: Philippians 3 4If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee (a conservative, religious leader and scholar); 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church (considered a Principal in the Jewish leadership); as for righteousness based on the law, faultless (lived and driven to keep every iota of the Jewish law). In the eyes of the world, he was acclaimed as prominent with great prestige within the Hebrew nation.
However, Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus and became willing to lose everything becoming a Christ follower. Here is what Paul says about all his fame: Philippians 3 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him.
So, as you can see, Christianity is “for losers…” For folks who are willing to lose and give up everything in this world to follow Him. Are you still holding onto cherished things in your life? Or, are you willing to lose it all to follow Him?
Become a loser in this world to gain it all in the next.
Barnabas Man 