HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE HIM?

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Acts 21:12-14

When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”

When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”


In the Christian faith we follow the leading of Christ, we do sacrifice for the Lord, we pay the price that many will be saved and the saved will remain faithful.


This is in contrast to those who kill others because of their faith. It is Anti-Christ. Selah


Recall that Paul had received revelation from the Spirit that he will be bound and imprisoned in Jerusalem:


Acts 20:23

except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.


Thus when the prophesies kept coming from different prophets his mind was already prepared, he was ready for the sacrifice.


Acts 21:11

He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’”


Acts 20:24

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.


Acts  21:12-14

When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”

When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”


This is the man who knew:


Romans 8:35-39

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

(As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.


When we recall the sacrifice of great men like Paul, the apostles and other believers, who sacrificed for the kingdom, and because of their sacrifice many of us are saved today. We keep asking ourselves, what sacrifice have we made?


Should we expect a reward.


Listen:


Matthew 6:2

When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.


Many have already received their reward on this earth, they have no eternal reward to receive because all they do is for personal glory and relevance. Many teachers fall into this category and some have led those that listen to them to the same error.


We should not fall into this trap, glory is for the Lord while He releases the blessings to us. Then in eternity we have an everlasting reward.


Is it that there are no blessings here. On the contrary, there is:


Mark 10:29-30

“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News,

will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.


This was a reply to Peter's comment:


Mark 10:28

Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.


Do you how that there are many who have this world's good, yet are lonely and lack joy. What is the essence of physical splendor if the soul is not in joy. What the Lord promised is joy here even with persecution and then eternal life.


No sacrifice of the believer is wasted, it is all an investment.


1 Thessalonians 5:24

God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.


For faithful is He who calls us.


*He loves us, so He gave. If we love Him, we will also give.*


What is your sacrifice?


Help us Good Lord


Glory to God.


He calls us blessed.


Love

@the watcher

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