For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. Matthew 16:25
When I was a little boy and found something that didn’t belong to me, I’d say, “Finders keepers, losers weepers!”
But do you know what the apostle Paul said? “Keepers weepers, losers finders.”
Back up a minute. You see, Paul had a pedigree within religious circles that was the envy of his peers. He was a brilliant thinker; a star student in the best school. But what did Paul learn after he met Jesus Christ and surrendered to Him? “I count all these things but loss. All of them.”
“…Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:7).
That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “Whosoever shall save his life, the same shall lose it.”
What does this mean for us? To be willing to turn from my sin, but to also turn from my “righteousness,” which in God’s sight counts no more than filthy rags. Paul said, “If righteousness comes by my keeping the law, then Christ died for nothing.”
It’s hard to let go of our sins. But it’s also hard to let go of our righteousness and say, “Lord, I don’t have anything to offer You. ‘In my hand no price I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.’” There’s something about human nature that doesn’t want to do that. We want to strut into the presence of God saying, “God look what a prize package you’re getting.”
Religion doesn’t save us. Jesus saves us. And He’s calling us not just to turn from our sins, but to turn also from our “righteousness.”
What are you holding onto that brings you security? Background? Education? Career? Status? Good works? Church standing? Let it go to the glory of God! Trust Him to clothe you in His righteousness.
For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.
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