Losing to Gain: The True Cost of Loving Jesus

In this episode of The Legacy Bible Podcast, we explore what it truly means to show love to the Lord through surrender. Drawing from Mark 8:34–38, we discover that following Jesus is not about what we gain from Him—but about giving ourselves fully to Him. Pastor Rains unfolds the truth that real love costs something: our will, our pride, and our plans. Through vivid illustrations of gift-giving, marriage, and self-denial, this teaching invites us to experience the joy of losing our life for Christ’s sake and the gospel’s—only to find the life we were created to live.

📖 Scripture Reference
Mark 8:34–38 (NKJV)
“Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

🧭 Key Themes
• True love always involves sacrifice.
• Giving ourselves up to Christ is the heart of discipleship.
• The danger of pursuing worldly gain over spiritual life.
• The call to daily self-denial and ongoing surrender.
• The joy of entering into a love relationship with Christ that transforms everything.

🗝️ Key Quotes
• “Any gift that doesn’t cost you something isn’t really much of a gift.”
• “Jesus gave Himself up for us so that He could have us—now He calls us to give ourselves up for Him.”
• “If you want to save your life, you must lose it—for His sake and the gospel’s.”
• “He didn’t die for your stuff. He died for you.”

🧩 Show Notes
• Introduction: The connection between giving gifts and showing love.
• Jesus’ invitation to “take up your cross” as an act of love and devotion.
• Understanding the difference between physical gain and spiritual life.
• Marriage as an illustration of mutual surrender and true relationship.
• Why prosperity, comfort, or emotion cannot be the goal of following Christ.
• The test of love—living unashamed of Jesus in a sinful generation.
• Living daily in surrendered relationship, moment by moment.

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