Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 10

Highlight Verse:

“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I remember this verse being spoken about during a young adult camp message series entitled “The Upside-Down Gospel.”

While that was nearly 40 years ago, the message still rings true.

The good news of Jesus is radically different from what the world would teach us.

“Look out for number one.”
“God helps those who help themselves.”
“Name it and claim it.”

All those work on the surface. Some people have applied the last one to living a life of faith.

The problem is, they are all focused on self when Jesus calls us to focus on others. The irony is in the fact that when we focus on others, our own lives become far richer and satisfying than if we were self-focused.

Living for Jesus is all upside-down and inside-out. And I can’t imagine it any other way.

Does it go against the grain for you to be focused on others rather than yourself?
Do you have stories of when you focused on others, and it became a huge blessing to you?
Would you share those stories to encourage others here?