What do you care about more than anything? Your car? Your dog? Your family? Your friends? Your significant other? How much do you really care about them? Do you actually love them? Do you care about them more than yourself? Do you care about them enough to die for them? To give your own life up so that theirs might be spared? Do you care about ANYONE that much? Do you love anyone enough to sacrifice your life for them? Do you love God enough to die for him? Do you love Him enough to give up your own life to follow him? To pursue him? These are tough questions but you have GOT to think about these.
Do you have any idea how many people have given up their lives to follow Jesus? Of the 12 disciples, 11 of them were martyred. John is said to be the only one who was not martyred, and yet he was tortured and exiled to Patmos where he eventually died. These were the men that knew Jesus best. They followed him more closely and more literally than anyone ever has. They gave their lives for him. They gave their lives to further His kingdom and to do his work. They gave their lives to follow Jesus.
Steven was stoned. Phillip was whipped and crucified. James was beaten and clubbed to death. Matthias was stoned and beheaded. Mark was cut into pieces. Peter was crucified upside down, at his own request, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord.
Even today, missionaries around the world are being killed for their work. Just this year I spoke with missionaries in Yemen who could be put to death for their work if they were discovered. There are missionaries who are not even allowed to tell their closest friends where they are…for their own safety. You may think that only bible characters or only old people from a long time ago are called to give up their lives, but they aren’t. Anyone might lose their life for Christ. Are you willing to lose yours for Jesus? Are you willing to die for the Christ? Are you willing to follow him until the end? Or will you forsake him when times get rough? If you do, when the day of judgment comes, he will say, “I never knew you, get away from me.” (Matthew 7:23) Be willing to live for Christ. Be willing to die for Christ.
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