Jesus Calls All - 69

Who will receive the greater reward in heaven?  The American Christian who out of his excess gives to missions around the world yet cowers in his faith with his neighbors; or the poor Christian who has nothing to give except for his life, and freely does so, rather than denouncing Christ.

Acts:4:19,20 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.  For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

In your workplace, at school, or in your neighborhood, are people telling you that you should not (or even may not) speak or teach about Jesus?  What is your response??

We are blessed in the United States with the ability to speak our minds, and to promote and discuss any topic of our choice - including those of religion and faith – without government intervention.  Unfortunately, this is not the case around the world, and there are many in the US that want to see Christians and Jews silenced as well.  (Islam, strangely, seems to be getting a free pass.)

Nonetheless, there are employers here in the US that will terminate employees if anyone complains about hearing a Christian radio station coming from, or seeing a bible at another employee’s workplace.   Not because they dislike Christians, but because these employers know one complaint can grow into a lawsuit.

Knowing you can lose your job in the USA is enough to intimidate most Christians right into the closet.  However, in China, India, Iran, Africa and many other parts of the world, it’s not jobs being lost; it’s lives.  People are arrested, imprisoned, tortured and massacred because they will not recant their faith.

These strong willed believers are an inspiration to many of us.  We as Christians in some of the wealthiest nations need to develop a backbone for Christ or face the wrath of a returning Christ.  If Jesus called the church of Laodicea, “…wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked”; what will He call us??

So, who gets the greater reward?  It’s just a guess, but methinx it’s the latter. For if Jesus is worth dying over, He is certainly worth losing a job over.