Saving Life
34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:34-38)
Denying ourselves is typically not our strong suit, but Jesus said that those of us who consider ourselves to be his followers must deny ourselves. But what are we to deny ourselves? It's unlikely that Jesus was referring to chocolate, meat, TV, social media, or many of the things we traditionally give up for Lent - unless, of course, those things separate us from God and God's purposes for our lives. Those things that keep us from reading and studying God's word, spending time in prayer, putting the needs of others before ourselves, or giving of our time, talents, and financial resources to the work of building God's kingdom on earth are things we might want to give up for Lent and for good. We tend to do everything in our power to satisfy our desire for rest, pleasure, and food, and none of those things are bad or wrong. The question is - how much time, effort and money do we put toward those things verses the things that strengthen our relationship with God and keep us in right relationship with one another? If someone who didn't know us looked at our calendar and our expenditures, what would seem to be most important to us? Is our focus on self, or on God and neighbor?
Jesus denied himself to the point of giving his very life so that we would know the depth of God's love for us, and have access to God's grace and forgiveness - he asks that we do no less. In this way, we save our life by loosing it - giving up ourselves by letting go of the temporary to take hold of the eternal.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. 26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD. May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. 28 For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. 29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. 30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, 31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it. (Psalm 22:25-31)
