By Pastor Steve Nickodemus
Losing My Life for Jesus
“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.””
Luke 9:23-24 English Standard Version
This is a World War 2 Torpedo Bomber, “The Avenger”. My uncle, Egan Hoffman, flew a similar plane off of the aircraft carrier, USS Wasp, involved in combat across the Pacific in 1944. His plane was shot down in the Philippines and he was killed by a Japanese patrol. He was reported Missing in Action, and only months later did my grandparents learn that he was dead.
He was only one of over 400,000 service men and women that died in World War 2. They sacrificed their lives for the American ideals of freedom, doing their duty to their country.
Jesus calls us to come after him, to deny ourselves, to take up our cross daily, and follow him. And he tells us that whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
My uncle answered the call to risk his life when he enlisted in the US Naval Air Corps. Will you answer the call to follow Jesus, to risk your life for the sake of the Gospel, to lose your life for his sake? What is Christ calling you to do to follow him? What is he asking you to give up, what cross is he asking you to take up, what path is he asking you to take to follow him?
Jesus assures us that all who follow him will be saved. Not saved from hardship, but saved to eternal life. And he has gone before us to the cross, giving up his life to save your from sins. In that sacrifice for us we are given grace to follow after him, to risk all for the Gospel. In his true sacrifice for us, we are given the privilege of following after him.
May the Lord give you his Holy Spirit as you follow after Jesus. Amen.
Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado
