Giving Up So Others Gain

In President Obama's inaugural speech he referenced the American Revolution. Specifically, he spoke of the year the Continental Army spent the winter in Valley Forge. He noted that George Washington's troops were malnourished, under supplied, and freezing. In those days, the president reminded us, the army was armed with their cause alone. That's when people discover what they really believe; when they discover that for which they would willingly die. The president suggested that this core motivation kept the men of Valley Forge going against all odds. They had something they believed in so passionately and completely, that they would sacrifice realizing it themselves if it meant someone else would realize it.

This may be a clue to why commitment to Jesus the Christ has always flourished in the most hostile environments. Those who would risk following Jesus and inviting others to know Him have to do so with that level of passion and central allegiance in such circumstances. They do with with willingness to sacrifice their own lies so others will encounter Christ. That has impact on unreached people. I think that has more life-changing impact than trying to draw people to church because we have a great preacher, a slick program, a nice building, or whatever.

Here's a disarming question I heard once...Is the salvation of others important enough that you would sacrifice your own so that they would know theirs?

I'll see you around the next bend in the river.