What does it mean to lose our lives to gain Christ?

Today I am provoked by the apostle Paul, who was provoked by Christ.

Lately I have been hearing a lot of talk, mostly from my own mouth, about suffering and persecution and how hard it is if a supporter forgets to send a monthly support check. And after reading a few of Paul’s letters I feel kind of woozy. Which is just another way of saying that I am again getting provoked to actually live the gospel that Jesus taught and lived. What is that gospel? Death to self that the Father would receive glory and honor. To lose everything puts us in a really good way to receive anything that the Father may want to give.

I get so scared when trouble comes, not realizing that God may be redeeming other things in me that I am unaware of. I wonder how much culture, American, western mindsets have crept into my understanding of the gospel. If persecution seems so hard and unbearable then I wonder if we are really living for Jesus at all. Paul said that whatever things were gain to him, he gave up in order to gain Christ. This led Paul to imprisonment, persecution, hunger, cold, being shipwrecked, beatings, lashes, having lack in much, and being slandered. And he considered these things joyful because he found the power of Christ’s resurrection there. Jesus said it this way, “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for my sake will keep it eternally.”

I present this frustratingly painful post with a question that is burning in me right now; am I living for the age to come? Am I heavenly minded? The answer probably lies somewhere in the way I spend my time, energy, money and what I talk about. God, how on earth are you going to raise up a bride thats worthy of your Son??!!