Webster gives these definitions to the word “loss:” “the harm or privation resulting from losing or being separated from something;” “the act or fact of being unable to keep or maintain something.” The case could be made that Christians are a bunch of “losers”...that is, in order to follow Christ, we will suffer “harm or privation” we will “be unable to keep or maintain.” The Apostle Paul put it this way: “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him...” (Philippians 3:7-11)
What Paul was referring to was personal. He lost prestige, worldly honor, his former way of life and thinking so that he could identify with and know Christ.

Each of us has a personal story like Paul's where we suffer loss to be counted as a follower of Christ. Jesus teaches His disciples to “turn the other cheek,” trade the world's acceptance for persecution, trade worldly sophistication for child-like faith, trade self-conceived control for God's sovereign purposes, trade pride for humiliation. Whether we're talking about marriage, or career, or parenting, or ministry, or fleshly desires, we will suffer personal loss in order to follow the Lord Christ.

In other words, being a Christian means we lose our ambitions, expectations, plans, self-promotions in order for Christ's power to be seen in us...and that loss will seem counter-productive every time...we will chafe under that loss...many times we don't recognize God's perfect plan. Paul was able to accept those “loses” so that he “may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11). That “resurrection” wasn't only a reference to the rapture, it was also a reference to leaving behind the ambitions, expectations, plans, self-promotions and now becoming one with Christ. This is a case where “losing is actually winning.”

My prayer for you and me this day is this...Lord, help us to see that what we thought was winning must be put aside for Your purpose in our lives. Remind us often that Your purpose will make us real winners and bring glory to Your name. Amen.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.