Saving and losing
Day 475, Saturday, Nov. 29
Luke 8:40 – Chapter 9
It’s easy to think of the birth of Jesus we celebrate at Christmas as the “happy” story and the crucifixion we remember on Good Friday as “sad.” But both are part of the same story: the great gift of salvation that God gave the world in Jesus Christ.
The story of Jesus teaches that there is no salvation without sacrifice.
It is the sacrifice of Jesus’s life that saves us from our sin, and our sacrifice of self that allows us to receive that gift. The great irony of faith is that only in surrendering life can life be found and only in sacrifice can we receive.
In 9:23-25 we read, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”
As we head through Advent toward Christmas, remember that Advent is a season of longing and anticipation; it is not yet time for the joy of Christmas. In the desperation of dark times we find the will to give up who we are and look longingly to the new creation God has in store for us.
-Rev. Mark Fleming
Saturday meditation
Psalms 35:1-10
Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.”
May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away; may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, may ruin overtake them by surprise—may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation. My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”
Prayer focus
We cry to you from the dark times. May we be willing to leave behind who we are and embrace who we will be.