Cushioned and Candy-coated

I have 3 things running around in my head:

1. I just read John 6 a week or so ago about when people saw the real cost of following Christ and stopped following Him. Which is weird because if we walk away from Christ then where are we heading?

2. Francis Chan talked about Matthew 5:14-16 when it says, “You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.” He pointed out that this passage was written in a plural context. When it says You… it actually translates to You plural, like… Ya’ll! The verse should be understood to mean that the church, as a whole is the light of Christ in the world, the world will see OUR good deeds and glorify our Father in Heaven. The Bible points over and over again to God creating a people group working for one purpose and that is to show people the one true God.

3. A friend recently pointed out the translation of the word “witnesses”in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” He said that word is rooted in the word for martyr, those who gave their life for their beliefs.

With those in my head… I saw some news about pastors being beheaded in Nigeria and other severe persecution going on around the world today. I am now trying to be more aware of the REAL cost of following Christ and how my brothers and sisters in Christ are actually being killed because of their belief in Christ. Church for us in the states can become SO cushioned and candy-coated. We have missed the fact that there’s a WAY bigger story that we are blessed to be a part of. That story is God’s story of bringing His people back to Him. Colossians says we were made for Him and by Him. We were made to worship Him. We are FOR Him. When we become a Christian we begin to follow Him and give Him our life. We are HIS witnesses. Do I know for sure if that Acts 1:8 word translates into us all being martyrs for Him. No, but I am not shocked at the thought. I want people to have a relationship with the one thing in the entire world that will never fail or leave them. His name is Jesus Christ.

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