The Kingdom Paradox

Lose to Win

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”
— Matthew 16:24

Every man is chasing life—success, purpose, fulfillment. But Jesus flips the script. He says the way to find life is to lose it, the way up is down, and the way forward is through surrender.

The Call of Jesus

Jesus doesn’t soften His words. He tells us plainly: following Him means self-denial, sacrifice, and surrender.

The kingdom paradox is this—what feels like losing is actually winning. To carry the cross is not about sprinkling a little religion on top of our lives, but about dying to ourselves so we can live fully for Him.

Every man faces this choice: will you build your own kingdom, or will you follow Christ into God’s kingdom?

The Reward of Surrender

Jesus doesn’t just call us to sacrifice—He promises a reward that outweighs anything we give up.

“Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

That means the man who surrenders his pride, ambitions, and comfort finds something greater: true life in Christ, freedom from sin, and eternal glory. While the world spends its energy chasing what cannot last, Jesus offers a reward that can never be taken away.

Growing Faith Through Surrender

Faith doesn’t grow in comfort. It grows when we trust God enough to surrender our will and obey Him, even when it costs us.

Every act of surrender—whether forgiving an enemy, saying “yes” to serving, or standing boldly for Christ—plants a seed of faith.

The more we die to self, the more alive we become in Him.

The Call to Action

Men, Jesus is clear: the only way to truly live is to lay your life down for Him.

This week, take a real step of surrender. Ask yourself:

• Where am I clinging to control instead of trusting God?

• What comfort or ambition do I need to lay down to follow Jesus more fully?

• How can I practically deny myself today in order to obey Him?

Don’t miss the paradox of the kingdom. What feels like loss is the doorway to life. Follow Him, take up your cross, and live!