Discover His heart: He calls us to be His followers regardless of the cost
I really dislike labeling, for the most part. Of course, I don’t mean the labeling on my files or canned goods, and I must admit I enjoy an upscale label or two on my clothing. I don’t appreciate labeling people or people groups because our labels are often judgmental and confining. However, there is one label you can give me all day long, and that is Christian. A Christian by definition is a believer in Jesus Christ as Savior. Unfortunately, in the jargon of today, I’m not certain what is meant by the term Christian.
“Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)” (11:25-26) For many, the term Christian has become a generic term for anyone who is not a pagan, but the New Testament Christian was much more than a label, “About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter.” (12:1-3) In the early church, professing to be Christian was life-threatening!
I remember reading the interesting conversation between Jesus and the Sons of Thunder, James and John, “Teacher,’ they said, ‘we want you to do us a favor.’ ‘What is your request?’ He asked. They replied, ‘When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?’…‘Oh yes,’ they replied, ‘we are able!’” (Mark 10:35-39) And, of course, they did drink from that cup. Peter said to Jesus, “I’m ready to die for you,” (John 13:37) and he did. These disciples were Christians to the death. There were many early Christian martyrs who were tortured for their faith, like Stephen and like Polycarp who declared to his death, “I am Christian!”
Many individuals in this century also who know what it means to be Christian. I met a young woman from a Muslim country who accepted Jesus as her Savior. She was forced to run to save her life because her father was ordered to kill her. She was now living in a foreign country, no home, no job, but said to me in her broken English and with tears in her eyes “I love my Jesus so much. I never forsake Him.” She is Christian.
Jesus explained the walk of a Christian in Matthew 10:37-39, “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” The words of Jesus beg the question, “Am I Christian?”
Moving Forward: More determined than ever, I declare today I am Christian. I understand the meaning. No wavering, no hesitation. I am Christian.
Tomorrow @ I Peter 1-3
Phyllis Benigas 