13th Sep 26 | 04:00
Daily Study
Lay down my life for Jesus
Acts 15 - Series 2/Episode 13 - Sun, 19th Apr 2026 - Lay down my life for Jesus - Acts 15:22-35 - THE ANNOUNCEMENT - Mark 08:35
Acts 15:25-27 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, (26) men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (27) We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.
Barnabas and Paul were men who had risked their lives for the Gospel. We are here on earth to live and die for the Gospel. We are not here to survive. This may sound like an extreme statement, but this is the definition of our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. Mark 8:35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.
This verse is in the context of being disciples of Jesus Christ. Mark 8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Then the Lord explains His expectation of us, which is to lose our lives for Jesus and for the Gospel. Mark 8:36-38 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (37) Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (38) For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
This explanation tells us that being a disciple of Jesus is not about throwing ourselves under the bus, but about saving our lives from the perspective of eternity. Are we ashamed of Jesus and His words in this adulterous and sinful generation? We ought not to be, but we must choose to take a stand for Jesus and His words in our times.
This is where many of us have compromised with the world. The world lays down rules and laws that we must not take the name of Jesus or take a stand for Jesus. We go into a state of fear. "It is better", we say to ourselves, "to be smart and go along with the dictates of the world. Why should we invite trouble?" Yes, I agree that we must be led by the Spirit of God at all times, but the mindset that we must have is this: "I'm here on earth to lose my life for Jesus and the Gospel."
Paul and Barnabas had this mindset of losing their lives for Christ and the Gospel. Look at what they have achieved in history. The impact of their lives and ministry continues to gain ground even after 2000 years. It is said that, to a large extent, social transformation has been brought about by believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, who were detached from the mundane world but endeavoured to bring God's will to earth. They were people of the kingdom of God. They rewrote the history of communities, societies, cultures, people groups and nations. They were willing to lay down their lives for Christ and for the Gospel.
So, what will it be for each of us? Will we try to save our lives, or will we lose our lives for Christ and the Gospel?
Look at the example of the three Hebrew boys. The King had issued an edict. Daniel 3:4-6 Then a herald cried aloud: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, (5) that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; (6) and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."
There was no option here. Either bow and worship the gold image or be thrown into the burning fiery furnace. What would each of us have done had we been there? We are facing similar situations in our times, but in different ways. What do we generally do? We usually make those compromises so that we do not lose our bread and butter.
What did the boys do? They refused to bow before the gold image. They were prepared to pay the price. Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (17) If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. (18) But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." God honoured them and lifted them.
History also tells us that not all those who have taken a stand for Jesus have survived. Many perished. Yet, their testimony has continued to transform society. The church has been built on the blood of the martyrs.
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