WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DIE
-- Author Unknown

A house church in a city of the USSR had managed to receive a single copy of the Gospel according to Luke. This was the only written copy of the Scripture that many of these Christians had ever seen. They tore it into small sections and distributed them among the body of believers. Their plan was to memorize the portion that had been given, and then on the next Sunday they would meet and redistribute the scriptural sections to memorize more.

On Sunday, these believers arrived inconspicuously in small groups or as singles throughout the day so as not to arouse the suspicion of KGB informers. By dark they were safely inside, windows closed and doors were locked. They began by singing quietly but with deep emotion.

Suddenly, the door was forced open and in walked two soldiers with loaded automatic weapons. One shouted, "All right everyone line up against the wall. If you wish to renounce your commitment to Jesus Christ, leave now!"

Two or three quickly left, then another. After a few moments, two more, "This is your last chance" he ordered, "or stay and suffer the consequences." Another left. Finally, two more in embarrassed silence with their faces covered, slipped out into the night. No one else moved. Parents with small children trembling beside them, looked down reassuringly. They fully expected to be gunned down or at best, to be imprisoned.

After a few more moments of complete silence, the other soldier closed the door, locked back at those who stood against the wall and said, "Keep your hands up, but this time is praise to our Lord Jesus Christ brothers and sisters. We too are Christians! We were sent to another house church several weeks ago to arrest a group of believers."

The other soldier interrupted, "But, instead, we were converted! We have learned by experience, however, that unless people are willing to die for their faith, they cannot be fully trusted."

Stories like this from the underground church in Russia have a way of jolting us! Immediately, this question comes to my mind. Would I be willing to die for my faith in Jesus Christ? Talk about a commitment, yet, it was exactly this kind of total giving that brought our modern day church into being. Those who have gone before us were willing to give everything, including life, to preserve and spread this gospel! Can we do the same? Can we stick to our gums when others disagree with us, when our beliefs and moral positions are unpopular? Can we do less?

PRAYER

"Lord Jesus Christ, open the eyes of my heart to recognize your presence with me and to understand the truth of your saving word. Nourish me with your life-giving word and with the bread of life."

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Shared by FoodForThoughtMinistry
http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org