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bigmike

Matthew 16:25 (LSB) 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Many of us tend to read God’s word, including the words of Jesus, and not always understand the seriousness of what they say or imply.
We also tend not to invest the time needed to get understanding or clarity when it comes to those same words.
It can sometimes be very intimidating to study the words we read and the topics they address. But it is important that we do so. The results we reap for our efforts will be life-altering and impactful in our relationship with God.
The words spoken by Jesus above are worth taking the time to dig into. He is, after all, talking about losing our lives, or saving them.
One of the things we can glean from this statement right away is that He is speaking symbolically.
He is not necessarily speaking about saving your physical life, although that can apply in some instances of extreme persecution.
He is speaking in the larger sense regarding handing the reins of our lives over to Him while we are alive here on earth; letting Him lead in every aspect.
As a follower of Christ, it is critical that we learn the importance of putting Him first in everything.
This can be tough when we are a new believer. We are typically taught as children that we must be self-reliant; we can depend on only ourselves.
But when God enters the equation, everything changes!
Our minds need to be retrained. We need to learn to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. Giving Him preference in everything must become a way of life.
And, finally, let us understand the importance of what Jesus was inferring.
He stated that if we try to save our lives (hold tightly to the control of them), we will ultimately lose them.
That is a significant statement that we must understand and heed. The consequences of our choice here are immense.
So let us choose wisely.

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