To Die For

Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am not ready only to be bound but also to die for the name of Jesus." Acts: 21:13

There is a very slim chance that any of us reading this will ever have to die for the name of Jesus. We may be made fun of, talked about, ridiculed, fired or rejected by “friends”, but we probably won’t lose our lives. Although, there are people all over the world who are dying for their belief in Jesus.  I admire and pray them.
Look at the passion and devotion that Paul had in the passage above. What are we willing to do for the name of Jesus? How much do we love him? Are we willing to sacrifice our time? Our resources? Our attitudes and selfish desires? Are we willing to face rejection? Are we willing to let go of pride and humble ourselves before him so that he can use us? Are we ready and willing to say “yes” to whatever it is that God wants us to do? How much is too much?
Jesus left nothing undone when he finished his work here on earth. He made the ultimate sacrifice, a brutally painful and agonizing sacrifice. Do we love him enough to follow him whole-heartily like Paul did? No, we haven’t been blinded by a bright light and heard the audible voice of Jesus, but if we have accepted Jesus as Lord of our lives, we still have the same salvation that Paul does. We are no less saved than he was. God may not be calling us to carry the cross of being an international missionary like Paul. However, He still deserves everything we have and all that we are. Whatever mission field he has placed us in, we should give him our all.