Listen

“Those who love their lives will lose them, and those who hate their lives in this world will keep them forever. Whoever serves me must follow me. Wherever I am, there my servant will also be. My Father will honor whoever serves me.”

John 12:25-26

Think

One of the great ironies of life is that the more we focus on ourselves – our desires, our fears, our possessions – the smaller our life becomes. While we may get all the things we wish for, along the way we lose the purpose to which our lives are called by God.

In today’s passage, Jesus reminds us that it is only through freeing ourselves of this self-focus, by “losing our life,” that we become part of the greater story that God is weaving.

“Wherever I am, there my servant will also be.”

Throughout his life, Jesus was clear that he could be found in the places where people were hurting, lost, dying. Even during this time when we must be physically separated, we are called to join Jesus in these places of suffering. For that is how we draw closer to our God.

Wendy Johnson

Pray

Creator God, I want to be close to you. Help me to remember that by focusing on your call, my life finds purpose and meaning. Help me to remember that you are with me always, even now.

For I am your follower and you are my God. Amen.

Go

We belong to each other, and we belong to God.