Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, February 13, 2021
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Did Jesus just ask his disciples to die for him? Well, yes, he knew that his mission and ministry were dangerous. He knew it would get some killed, especially at that time. And indeed, many of the disciples were killed for their faith.
Does Jesus expect you to die for him? I think if we were living in a different time or a different land, that might be at stake. But if you are reading this, it’s unlikely that you will be asked literally to die for Jesus. Most of us are free to believe as we like, which makes the threat of death due to faith highly unlikely.
So what do we make of Jesus’ words? Ultimately, Jesus was asking us to cultivate a willingness to be reshaped. For some, “take up their cross daily” meant sacrificing, even to the point of sacrificing their very lives. For us, it may mean be willing to give up the things of the world, the things that the world tell us are worth striving for—money, fame, power. Instead, we can shape our lives so that our lives are not the central point of it all. Instead, we can give up ourselves so that others can come first. It takes daily commitment to shape our lives as such, but to do so also offers daily rewards of its own.
What might I sacrifice so that I can gain something even greater?
