Would you die for Jesus

If you were preaching and a group of people tried to kill you for preaching Jesus, what would you do? Would you try and get away from that place where you were preaching? I think most people would flee that place. Is there any circumstances in which you would go back into the city where a crowd tried to kill you?

The apostle Paul did that very thing. There were some men who came down from Antioch and Iconium to the city of Lystra. The reason they came to Lystra is because they knew Paul was there preaching the word of God. They hated Paul and it was their desire to put him to death. These men who had come down persuaded the crowds to kill Paul. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city thinking he was dead (Acts 14:19).

However, the disciples gathered around Paul and he rose up. Paul then went into the city. Let me say that again, yes he went into the city, the same city he was just stoned in. Paul then went to Derbe the following day (Acts 14:20).

Do you see what just happened, Paul didn't care if he died because he was proclaiming the Lord's name. He was following Jesus and he never ran from those in Lystra who had tried to kill him. Think about the influence this must have had on those he had preached the Gospel to. If Paul would have run after he had been stoned many may have decided they didn't want any part of that. When people saw what happened to him and then he returned back to the same city, this must have had a great impact. People would have realized there was something special about this Jesus for a man to be dedicated like Paul was.

What about us? If someone beat you and told you they would kill you if you spoke about Jesus, what would you do? Would you go back to the same place and preach His name? This may determine how committed you are. Would you give your life for him? Many of us say yes, I would die for Him. There is one thing that is a fact, if you won't live for Him then you will never die for Him.

This week when you come in contact with someone you know is not a Christian, make it a priority to bring up Jesus. People need to know there is a Savior and all of mankind has an opportunity to be saved. Remember Paul was proclaiming Jesus even though his life was on the line, we have no excuse because our life is not on the line.