Would God ever want a loser in His Kingdom? Would Jesus ever want a loser in His Church? Would you ever want a loser for a brother, friend, neighbor, or even an acquaintance?
Most people, regardless of their status and position in life, would not want to consider themselves as losers. Someone else might consider them a loser or a winner. Some might not consider themselves winners per se, but probably never an out and out loser.
If you are Christ's, if you are in Him, and He is in you, you are a bonified member of an exclusive fraternity. But you have all been members of the loser fraternity. At some point in the past, you had to become a loser by the world's definition. Some could say this is not true, because they have always been successful (in whatever way they measure success), and never have been a loser. Unfortunately some have been taught to believe that by believing and surrendering to God through Jesus Christ will make us not only a winner spiritually unto eternal life, but also a winner by the world's standards, in wealth, health, prosperity, and very few troubles.
Perhaps this would be so, looking backwards. However, before they could belong to Christ, they had to become a "loser" - Luke 14:26-33. Some believe that believing in Jesus Christ is a sure ticket to poverty, so - they will not believe, choosing possible wealth or prosperity in sin instead. Others are certain that believing in Him is a sure road to financial prosperity, comfort and ease.
Then - there are those who say it matters not what road He has for me, I will follow it. In essence this was the choice made by one long ago:
"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." - Hebrews 11:24-26.
In the world, to be called a loser can be humiliating and, depending on the tone, insulting, hurtful and very discouraging, even destructive to one so called. But to be a member of Christ's exclusive fraternity is an honor beyond compare! Why? Because comparatively, there are so few willing to become members.
"For [simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [of you were considered to be] wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, not many of high and noble birth. [No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are," (1 Corinthians 1:26-28 AMP)
And Why? "So that no mortal man should [have pretense for glorying and] boast in the presence of God." (1 Corinthians 1:29 AMP)
This world can be very boastful while denigrating those it feels are losers, and yet all - losers and all - are made in God's image. If you do not consider yourself a loser in the popular sense of the word, would you be willing to become one If, becoming one would mean living forever in peace and happiness like no one has even dreamed? Could you handle being called a loser, or ridiculed because of your trust in Him? Would it be worth it to you? Could you align yourself with one of the biggest losers who ever lived, when he said,
"I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ". (Philippines 3:8)
Could you, along with the Apostle Paul, be willing to count virtually all of your life up until now as wasted and a total loss compared to having the assurance of living forever?
Does becoming that kind of a loser seem like a good trade? Jesus gives you the real "acid test" when He stated,
"So then, any of you who does not forsake (renounce, surrender claim to, give up, say good-bye to) all that he has cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:33 AMP)
Are you ready to make the exchange - now? If so, and you are willing to do this, He gives you a promise...
"And Peter said, See, we have left our own [things--home, family, and business] and have followed You. And He said to them, I say to you truly, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God Who will not receive in return many times more in this world and, in the coming age, eternal life." (Luke 18:28-30 AMP)
The choice is yours.
How could you ever become a bigger winner than this!