Weekly Devotion Published 02/23/2021 Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 5:1-11; Mark 8:27-38 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Have you ever thought about your death? Making funeral arrangements,
taking care of debts or other expenses, thinking about the care of your loved
ones after you die. Now, trust me, I know that’s a weird question. I know it’s
not the cheeriest of thoughts to have. But at some level, we all know it’s necessary,
because death is inevitable. While we’d all love to think that we will pass peacefully
in the middle of the night at the young age of 110 (Hey, it’s young
compared to Adam—Genesis 5:5), we know that may not be the case. We know that
death could happen at any time. Now, why do I bring up such a cheery topic? The reality is
that death is a powerful motivator. The thought of death can make people do all
sorts of strange things. Humanity as a whole has been looking for ways to conquer
death for decades so as not to face it. Such ideas like being frozen until medicine
finds a cure, uploading your mind to the internet, or even biomechanical
replacements for defective organs all stem from man’s desire to avoid death.
Yet, all of these only speak to the sad reality of our sinful fallen creation
looking for hope in all the wrong places. In our Gospel reading this week, Jesus speaks to this very
reality. He teaches us that our life isn’t to be lived as to avoid death, but rather
with death before our face every day. Just as Jesus says, “If anyone would come
after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever
would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and
the gospel’s will save it,” Mark 8:34-35. All those who seek to preserve their
life at all costs… they are the ones that end up never actually living life. But
rather, as a Christian, we are to live as though we die every day. We are to
live without fear of death, regardless the trial or conflict we face. For to
follow Jesus, one must be willing to die rather than turn aside from the faith. But you see, when we live life in such a way, with death
ever before us, a strange thing happens. Instead of always living afraid to
die, we live life to the fullest. For now, as we stare death in the eye, we can
look past it. We can look up to the one who died for us, to Jesus, crucified for
us! Even as Jesus invites us to follow him in this cruciform life, we realize
that Jesus still leads us. He teaches us how to die so that we may follow him
not just to death, but through death. For now, we no longer live to die,
but rather we die to live! For by Christ’s death, he joins us on this road; he picks
up our cross and leads us through our suffering, through our death, that he may
grant us life everlasting! So, may we pick up our cross and follow, so that we
may die everyday with Jesus, that Jesus may raise us to the newness of life! Pastor Sorenson Prayer: O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By
Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body
and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus
Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen!
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