Are You Willing To Go To Jail ?
By Pastor Dan Chun
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. (Acts 4:1-4)
Someone told me that he met a Christian from China who said that to join his church people would have to be willing to go to jail for their faith.
Wow! What if we made that a requirement for our members – that they would have to be willing to go to prison for their faith? It would point to a faith that is dead serious about following Jesus and seeing Him as Lord. It would cut down on a “consumer Christianity” that might use Jesus just to benefit ourselves in wealth or status or power. It might create a community more radical and serious about their faith.
This made me ponder. Would I be willing to go to jail for my faith? Would I be willing to die for my faith? Would I be willing to have myself endangered in living a life for Jesus and others? Could that decision be the baseline for all of my actions here on earth? Faith would not be frivolous. I would not be a dilettante in Christianity just dabbling or putting my toe in the water but not being fully immersed in allegiance to Jesus.
We may think this is crazy to live a life willing to die for a cause. Aren’t only terrorists like that? No. Think about it. Those who are in the military, police, EMT, firemen, and front-line workers among others all know there may come a time when they will have to put their life on the line for others. They signed up for that.
In our passage, Peter and John were willing to go to jail for their faith. How would you answer if asked you, “Would you be willing to go to prison for your faith? Why yes, or why not?”
I once was asked to give a Bible study in another country and was told it was possible I would be arrested if I led it. Most of us are not put in that position, but what if you were? So how did I answer? Well, this devotional is about you. What would you say?
How serious was Jesus about the devotion we should have? Jesus said, “If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)
How we respond to that verse will guide our outlook on life and faith.
Prayer: Lord, we often sing “I surrender all, all to You my blessed Savior, I surrender all.” May the words of our lips be consistent with the reality and message of our hearts. Lead us away from a consumer faith to a faith that is willing to go all out for You. It’s not about us. It’s about You. In the name of the One who went all out for us, Amen.
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