If You Want To Save Your Life…

Lessons from the Ukraine War Front - Devotional by Ed Anton

“You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.”

— A Grief Observed, C. S. Lewis

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

— Gospel of Mark 8:34–35

I thought I knew this verse. If I am honest, I even felt a quiet confidence that I had carefully researched, exposited, and preached what Jesus meant.

Then I met the young men of the Kyiv Church of Christ.

They taught me the meaning of Jesus’ words more clearly than any resource in my library ever could.

My wife Deb and I have visited our brothers and sisters in Ukraine through our work with the European Missions Society. During a Young Professionals devotional gathering, I was deeply moved by the conversations with the young men who attended. I was also surprised by how many were present.

Earlier that month, Ukraine had lowered the draft-eligible age from 27 to 25 due to the prolonged demands of war. Many of the young men in that room were over 25. If they had encountered a mobilization checkpoint on their way to the gathering, they could have been sent directly to the front lines—where casualty rates are high. Many of their brothers had already been mobilized in precisely this way. More than a dozen from their fellowship had been killed in battle.

This was not theoretical theology for them. Death had visited their small groups. Grief sat in their pews.

That very month, a newly married couple in the church were on their way to a Friday night small group gathering. Authorities stopped their car and asked for our brother’s documents. On the spot, he was mobilized. His young bride was told to drive the car home alone. Within a week, he was killed in action. She became a widow almost as soon as she had become a wife.

These tragedies run deep and wide throughout the fellowship.

I asked the men over 25 why they continue attending worship and fellowship gatherings in person. I admitted that I might be tempted to stay home and watch the livestream, avoiding unnecessary exposure.

Their answer pierced me.

“We want—no, we need—to stand side by side with our brothers and sisters and sing songs of deliverance to Jesus. We need to see faces. We need to feel the hugs of those we love. We experience the Spirit among us in fellowship—collectively convicting, strengthening, and encouraging us through the Word. And Jesus taught us that trying to save yourself is foolish. Only by truly giving our lives to Him is there real safety.”

I felt the conviction described in the Book of Job: “I put my hand over my mouth” (Job 40:4).

It was almost overwhelming to stand among these young disciples whose faith had been tested in the fire. Yet they welcomed me warmly. And I praised God for the lesson they taught—a costly lesson. Because it was costly for them, it must not be cheap to us.

They show us courageous trust in the Lord. But they learned it from Jesus.

He knew the risks.

He understood the cost.

He entered the battle that would demand His life.

He lost His life so that we might have the assurance of eternal life.

Let us then live this life courageously.

Faithfully.

Obediently.

Together.

————————

A Prayer for Peace and Faithfulness

Lord Jesus Christ,

You are the Prince of Peace and the Captain of our salvation. You walked knowingly toward the cross, trusting the Father completely. Teach us to follow You with that same courage.

We lift before You our brothers and sisters who live under the shadow of war. Bring peace to their land. Restrain violence. Comfort the grieving. Protect the vulnerable. Strengthen the weary. May Your presence be nearer than fear and stronger than death.

Forgive us for the ways we cling to comfort and self-preservation. Forgive us when we treat discipleship as theory rather than surrender. Write Your words deeper into our hearts: that whoever loses his life for You will find it.

Grant us peace—not the fragile peace of circumstances, but the settled peace of belonging to You. Make us faithful in worship, steadfast in fellowship, bold in witness, and joyful in obedience.

Teach us to stand side by side with Your people. Teach us to sing even when the future feels uncertain. Teach us to trust that true safety is found not in saving ourselves, but in giving ourselves fully to You.

And when our faith is tested, may it be proven genuine.

When fear whispers, may Your Spirit speak louder.

When the cost feels high, remind us of the cross.

Make us faithful disciples, Lord Jesus—until the day when wars cease and every tear is wiped away.

In Your holy name we pray,

Amen.