(For those who have inquired, A repost of Sarah Joy’s story from July 28 can be found in the “Today’s Read” section of this website.)
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Matthew 16:25
Today, remember the principle of exchange! There are always challenges to faith. A secular culture offers many distractions and allurements that can tempt one to compromise faith. But there exists the principle of exchange.
Discouragements can bear down and cause weariness of the soul. Perspectives of humanism and secularism can fight to water down the truth. But the principle of exchange remains.
Sometimes the fight to maintain the proper focus can feel debilitating. But again, there remains the principle of exchange.
The principle of exchange defined.
So, what is this principle of exchange that offers comfort and strength when life’s challenges relentlessly rise up? And how does this principle encourage us to stay faithful?
Jesus said,
“Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
This idea of “life” represents one’s spiritual life or soul. When this world challenges you to negotiate your surrender to Jesus, when this culture attempts to allure you from your path of commitment, remember that your life is lost to Him, and He has therefore given you His life. So, although challenges are relentless, you have been made alive spiritually. And nothing (not anything, any person, any experience, or any new idea) comes close to equaling the life found when losing your own.
The principle of exchange realized. When you lose this life (with all the passions for vain treasures and temporary fulfillments that eventually lead to destruction), you gain the abundant life of Jesus given at the moment of the new birth and lasting for all eternity. This exchange took place when you said “yes” to Jesus’ gift of salvation, and “no” to the call of this world.
Life abundant offers forgiveness and cleansing from sin, and renewal from sin’s guilt and stain. Life abundant brings fulfillment, peace, joy, and a living hope. Through His life you have been given everything you need for life and godliness (I Peter 1:3). God gives you all you need. All that will ever complete your life is a gift from Him.
The principle of exchange applied. So, every confrontation and temptation from this world must be met with the reality of fulfillment in Christ – you have been given all you need. Every challenge to negotiate your faith for a temporary benefit from this culture must be met with the reality of gain – all that Christ has given you can never be lost.
With your faith in Jesus, live securely in the reality that all things pertaining to this world have been lost, and all things in the eternal and abundant life of Jesus have been gained. So when facing challenges against your faith, remember the principle of exchange. You have lost this life and you have received His. Life lost! Life found!
Blessings.
READ
Read Matthew 16:24-26
