Noteworthy: Giving up everything
By Ray King · Mar 24, 2022
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 12:24–25
Jesus sacrificed His life in obedience to His Father. His obedience bore eternal results and made it possible for us to also follow His example (1 Peter 2:21–25).
Our natural reaction to anything that threatens our life or comfort is to seek ease and safety—to love our life. However, being controlled by that inclination will cost us everything for all eternity. The only way to forever protect our life is to give it up—to hate it.
Choosing to follow Jesus means giving up everything in our life for His purposes. If we try to hang on to our life, we lose it. If we give it up to Jesus’ control, we get to keep them forever.
Ray King is editor emeritus of the Samaritan Ministries Christian Health Care Newsletter.