“When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching great numbers of people. (It was there at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)” Acts 11:26 (NLT)
Did you know that the first time people were called Christians that it was a negative term? It is a fact. In Antioch when Paul and Barnabas and other believers went to extremes to share about Jesus.
Just had a fellow walk out of my office headed out to another part of the world to serve His country, and he also goes an ambassador for Jesus. He is not ashamed. Got a great friend who called on Saturday as he and his wife are headed to a new field in the mountain of a South America nation as missionaries. They are excited and not ashamed. Heard the testimony of a law enforcement officer this weekend who often tells people about his faith. He is bold and on track. So many have this same testimony.
How many times have you been shot at or convicted or beaten for talking about Jesus? It happens every day in our world. How many times have people called you names for being Christian or made you look bad? It happens often right here where we live. Are we ashamed? It is not about getting the abuse. It is all about bringing attention to our great God. He is awesome and I am not ashamed.
What names are you being called? As the new church moves forward, I want to be known as a risk taker, courageous leader and man of prayer all because I follow Jesus. That is my prayer for the leaders and people who have joined God and me. No matter the cost, no matter the road, no matter the name calling … we will follow Jesus.
It may not cost us much now, but are we willing to pay if it does?
“…But others trusted God and were tortured, preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free. They placed their hope in the resurrection to a better life. Some were mocked, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in dungeons. Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed with the sword. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, hungry and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world. They wandered over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.” Hebrews 11:35-38 (NLT)
The NASB calls those kind of people “men of whom the world is not worthy.” Now, that is word for the grave stone!
Did you know that the first time people were called Christians that it was a negative term? It is a fact. In Antioch when Paul and Barnabas and other believers went to extremes to share about Jesus.
Just had a fellow walk out of my office headed out to another part of the world to serve His country, and he also goes an ambassador for Jesus. He is not ashamed. Got a great friend who called on Saturday as he and his wife are headed to a new field in the mountain of a South America nation as missionaries. They are excited and not ashamed. Heard the testimony of a law enforcement officer this weekend who often tells people about his faith. He is bold and on track. So many have this same testimony.
How many times have you been shot at or convicted or beaten for talking about Jesus? It happens every day in our world. How many times have people called you names for being Christian or made you look bad? It happens often right here where we live. Are we ashamed? It is not about getting the abuse. It is all about bringing attention to our great God. He is awesome and I am not ashamed.
What names are you being called? As the new church moves forward, I want to be known as a risk taker, courageous leader and man of prayer all because I follow Jesus. That is my prayer for the leaders and people who have joined God and me. No matter the cost, no matter the road, no matter the name calling … we will follow Jesus.
It may not cost us much now, but are we willing to pay if it does?
“…But others trusted God and were tortured, preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free. They placed their hope in the resurrection to a better life. Some were mocked, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in dungeons. Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed with the sword. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, hungry and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world. They wandered over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.” Hebrews 11:35-38 (NLT)
The NASB calls those kind of people “men of whom the world is not worthy.” Now, that is word for the grave stone!
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