Key Passage: Matthew 16:21-28

Topic: Obedience/Discipleship

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:24-25, ESV)

What is a paradox? A paradox can be defined as a statement that appears to be contradictory but often has a deeper truth.

The Bible has a number of such statements. Look at what Jesus says here: If you try to hold on to your life you'll lose it. On the other hand, if you give it up for Him you'll keep it.

Now you wonder, How does that work? How do you keep your life by letting go and lose it by holding on to it?

The answer to this question provides one of the greatest truths of life.

You and I were created to live for something bigger than ourselves--for Someone bigger than ourselves. But many people try to live only for themselves. They go through life trying to make themselves happy with whatever this world has to offer.

But Jesus invites us to do something radically different. He tells us to let go of our control and give everything to Him. It's only when we surrender our lives that we will find exactly what and who we were created for.

Jesus told His disciples that to follow Him they must take up their cross and die to themselves. They must lose their life in order to find a life more exciting than they've ever known.

When we "lose" our life to Jesus, we find real meaning, happiness and fulfillment.