They Gave It All For the Love of Christ

Life was pretty rough for the early apostles. Trying to spread the Gospel was very dangerous and risky. Yet even though the threat of death hung over their heads at every turn, they perservered.

Most knew early on that their time in this world would be short, but they never wavered from their mission. They didn't let anyone or anything stop them! They were all driven by their love and devotion to Jesus Christ; and dedicated to share his message with all. As you can see, they paid dearly for their belief in Christ and what he preached.

• Matthew suffered martyrdom by being slain with a sword at a distant city of Ethiopia.


• Mark expired at Alexandria, after being cruelly dragged through the streets of that city.
  
• Luke was hanged upon an olive tree in the classic land of Greece.


• John was put in a caldron of boiling oil, but escaped death in a miraculous manner, and was afterward banished to Patmos.
  
• Peter was crucified at Rome with his head downward.


• James, the Greater, was beheaded at Jerusalem.


• James, the Less, was thrown from a lofty pinnacle of the temple, and then beaten to death with a fuller’s club.


• Bartholomew was flayed alive.


• Andrew was bound to a cross, whence he preached to his persecutors until he died.


• Thomas was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel in the East Indies.


• Jude was shot to death with arrows.
  
• Matthais was first stoned and then beheaded.


• Barnabas of the Gentiles was stoned to death at Salonica.


• Paul, after various tortures and persecutions, was at length beheaded at Rome by the Emperor Nero.
  

Oh sure, we might go to church (or not) ; read a few passages out of the Bible; and maybe even say a prayer or two for good measure. Some of us might have given up on religion altogether. But, I often wonder what the apostles would think if they were here with us today? Would they be satisfied with the present state of affairs in our world? Would they be apalled? How would they be received or perceived today?

As far as religion goes, there's always been a pretty fair amount of hatred, skepticism, controversy, fear, ignorance, etc., involved. Even so, one thing is certain; Christianity has taken a beating, but it's still alive and kicking!

Each apostle took a gamble going out and trying to share the Word with the world. As you know, not everyone was happy to hear about it. So what else is new? Go ahead and carry the gospel in your heart; and always try to demonstrate the message of Jesus in all that you say and do. I am telling you here and now that it won't be any easier today than it was back then. But then again, would it be worthwhile if it was easy? I wonder what any one of the apostles mentioned above would think about that?

Dear Lord, let us pray for those whom haven't accepted your powerful and loving message which we so desperately need in today's world, Let us pray for their HEARTS to be changed;
Let us pray for Receptive and Repentant Hearts (Luke 8:5-12);
Let us pray for their spiritual Eyes and Ears to be opened to the truth of Christ (2 Cor. 4:3-4; Matt. 13:15);
Let us pray for them to have God’s Attitude toward sin (John 16:8);
Let us pray for the person to be Released to believe (2 Cor. 10:3-4; 2 Tim 2:25-26);
Let us pray for a Transforming life (Rom. 12:1-2);
Let us pray for God to Send them into his harvest field (Matt 9:35-38). In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, Amen.

Have a blessed day!

-Debi Lynn