Would you die for the name of Christ? Would you live for Him?

Acts 21:1-17 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

When we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara; ² and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. ³ When we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴ After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem. ⁵ When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. ⁶ Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

⁷ When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day. ⁸ On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. ⁹ Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. ¹⁰ As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” ¹² When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴ And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”

¹⁵ After these days we got ready and started on our way up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ Someof the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.

¹⁷ After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

In  today’s text it says:  As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”  When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.  Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”    Paul was ready and willing to die for the name of Jesus. Throughout history and even today, many people have and do die for their faith in Christ. Many of us perhaps wonder how we would respond in that situation, if we faced death or denial of Christ. Like Paul we can say that we are ready, but in truth, to die for Christ is a gift of faith that must be given for the time. One thing is certain. To die for the name of Jesus, to stand upon our faith to the point of dying is something we would only need to choose to do once. But, to live for Christ, on the other hand, is something we must choose to do daily; even moment by moment. How can we say we would die for Him, if we are not willing to live for Him? In Luke 9:23 Jesus says:  “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

Paul lived for Christ and the gospel. He was radically changed by meeting Jesus, from a persecutor of followers of Christ to an unashamed witness for Him. In Luke 17:21, Jesus says:  “Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”  If that is true, then we like Paul, should be radically transformed. We should bring the kingdom of heaven into every situation and circumstance we face. We should unashamedly be witnesses for Christ and the gospel. We should not only pray as Jesus taught us to pray:  Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.    We should be the fulfillment of that prayer, bringing the realities of the kingdom and the truth of the gospel to and into the world. Jesus, speaking of His own death in John 12:24 says:  “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”  Jesus died so that we could live. Living for Him, we are to be the fruit of His death.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 says:  For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die.   Indeed we all will die. Some may die for their faith and for the name of Jesus. We do not choose the time or the circumstance of our death. We can though choose how we live. If you are reading this today then you are in the season of life. There is a purpose for you in Christ and the kingdom of heaven. We cannot control every circumstance and situation we will face today, but we can choose in that circumstance, to live for Christ. We can live radically, bringing the kingdom of heaven to and into every place we go. We can choose today to live for Christ. To daily deny ourself is not to sacrifice our life. Much to the opposite, to live for Christ is to live the abundant life He came to give. To live for Christ is to choose to fulfill the very purpose of His death; that we bear fruit. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says:  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”     In the text today, Paul said:  I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.   Today Jesus only asks: Would you live for Him?

Thank You heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit; that Jesus died so that I could live; not only eternally, but now in this life. May I choose daily, empowered and enabled by the Holy Spirit to live radically for You. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done, in and through my life. Like Paul may I be ready to die for the name of Jesus, but even more, may I choose to live for Your name because You died for me.   Amen.