"Losing our lives"

Luke 9 : 22 - 25

Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it

Taking up "crosses" can become self-serving if not done "for Christ's sake", out of love, to praise, reverence and serve him. "Crosses" can become so glorified in themselves - for example, suffering a prolonged illness, bearing with a difficult working environment, putting up with a difficult relationship and so on, that Christ is in the background. "For his sake" is the inner stance invited from us as we take up the particular "cross" we are given in life.

Losing our lives is the basis of being able to do it all "for his sake". The cross means first of all death to "self" - the hardest death of all. Many have died painful deaths yet basked in the heroism and maybe stoicism of their deeds. We recall that Jesus' death was nothing glorious in human measurement - he was crucified between two thieves, and counted with the ungodly. Apart from the physical pain, I wonder how much more the pain of "shame and mockery", and not only for himself but also for his loved ones. Imagine being convicted of something we are innocent of and put through a mockery of a trial. Imagine that our loved ones are there to witness the shame and disgrace......their love remains strong, yet we cannot comfort them by righting the situation for them. Jesus shows us what it means to die to self.......seeking only to obey and honor the will of his Father. And trusting, always trusting that the seed is germinating while buried in the earth.