The great paradox of faith (Matthew 16; Mark 8; Luke 9:18-27)

One of the greatest paradoxes of faith is spoken of by Jesus in the three Gospel accounts from today's reading: in order to gain your life you have to lose it.  Losing your life means something different to every person, but it ultimately comes down to surrendering oneself to the Lordship of Christ.  It's a daily decision to say, "not my will, but yours" – a phrase spoken by our Lord and Saviour Himself when He had to make the toughest choice of all: dying for our sins.  Jesus also taught that those people who hold on to their lives will lose them.  We've all seen this before: a person who indulged in a promiscuous lifestyle finding himself or herself feeling empty and lonely.  Jesus promises in John 10:10 that He came so we could have life to the full, and we gain that life by surrendering our own.  I recently taught a series to the students on this topic called The Cross.  If you'd like to hear more of my thoughts click here to be taken to those sermons.