“Become My Followers”

 

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

 

“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

 

Matthew 16:21-28

 

We get a chance everyday to present Christ to unbelievers. The question is what do we do to find that opportunity and what do we do when we have that opportunity? Just remember, Jesus can put us in the right spot, and he can give us words, but it will be Him and Him alone who takes the words we speak and to convict people to come to Him.

 

In the past 2,000 years of missionary effort, valiant men and women have left their homelands to proclaim Christ in remote, primitive, and dangerous settings. Many have lost their lives; others have suffered persecution. In many parts of the world today, to talk publicly about Jesus is to risk hardship, jail, and even death.

 

When we consider the sacrifice Jesus made for us, any sacrifice we make to bring others to Him is worth the cost. When we open our heart to the LORD, He opens our eyes to the lost.

 

Our Daily BreadFebruary 5, 2007