Friday Faith Focus: Where To Lose, Means To Win!

"The blood of the cross is the amazing secret of understanding, spiritual change, and living a holy life."  - Anonymous

"Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." (John 12:24)

Consider the abundance of truth in these words spoken by the One who said them! No one had ever spoken or lived like he had. Even so, his ministry didn't reap the benefits it should have.

Large, curious crowds hung on his every word, but they were mostly uncommitted listeners. When Jesus was eventually prosecuted, only a few to none supported him. Like the single "kernel of wheat," he was alone.

However, following Jesus' death, at Peter's sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41), roughly three thousand souls joined the Church. But, it didn't stop there. Something interesting happened!

During the days that followed, even "more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number" (Acts 5:14), making the Crucified Savior more effective than the living Jesus.

Clearly displayed to the followers of Jesus Christ, is the message of the necessity of sacrifice in order to succeed. One must voluntarily deny himself/herself in order to claim victory.

Keep in mind that, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). Those who grasp this law of the divine economy will be all the better for it.

Scripture: Romans 12:1; John 3:16; Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:17

Prayer: Dear Jesus, may I never forget Your sacrifice for me; and in return, I gladly give my heart in faith and love to You, amen.

May your weekend be blessed!

Raelynn