“You poor stupid fool believing in Jesus!”, is often what others will say, or something similar, when they find out you are a Christian. By others, I mean non-believers who are hostile to the gospel. Following the Lord Jesus will cost you. The question is are you happy to pay the price?
All to often I hear people who profess to be believers say they don’t speak much about God/the Lord Jesus Christ, but they let their life speak of Him. There is also the wonderful comment mentioned when someone asks a “believer” if they share their faith with others: “Evangelism is not my gifting, I’m better at doing what I know how to do.” However, in Scripture, there is no place where we “only” live out the gospel. We are all called to proclaim the gospel; to go and make disciples…Then we hear in Scripture, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We are called to engage the world. Indeed, if we are truly saved our hearts will be burdened to proclaim the excellencies of Christ Jesus the Lord.
When was the last time you suffered for Christ Jesus? When was the last time you were mock, put down – Talked down too…laughed at etc. Do you know God in His Word tells us that we should expect to suffer for Christ, it’s a gift. We should not expect it to be strange when we do suffer. Indeed, we are to consider it a blessing being counted worthy to suffer for the Lord Jesus! Join with me, Shane Sands, as I delve into this often overlooked doctrine – suffering for Jesus.
May the Lord Jesus be honored and exalted! May God the Father be glorified. May the Holy Spirit rejoice as you examine your heart. Here are a few Scripture references used in this video. Grace and peace to all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Proverbs 29:9, 2 Timothy 3:12, Philippians 1:29, Hebrews 13:13-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14 and Acts 5:41.
Shane Sands is the founder and president of United In Christ Jesus, a gospel evangelism ministry which began in 2010. Shane is husband to Holly, his godly wife of ten years (he defiantly married up). They both live in South Carolina at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, along with their ever idiotic cat, Mister Bojangles. Shane has been blessed to travel to numerous countries and states, along with his wife, to preach the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.