May 21, 2017
The other day, our 16-year-old granddaughter said, “Bappa, the Christians in New Testament times were different from Christians today.”
I said, “In what way, Sweet Angel?”
She replied, “The early Christians were always telling people about Jesus and speaking the truth even though they were beaten, put in prison, or killed. Most of us Christians today act like we are afraid to speak up for Jesus.”
“You’re right, Sweetheart,” I said. “That’s something we need to think and pray about.”
In Jerusalem when the authorities commanded Peter and John not to speak to anyone about Jesus, they decided to “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). The apostles were flogged (Acts 5:40), but that didn’t stop them. “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 5:42).
Paul was frequently put in prison for preaching the gospel, exposed to death again and again, severely flogged five times, beaten with rods three times, and stoned and left for dead. He was shipwrecked three times, and he spent a night and a day in the open sea. He was constantly on the move. He was in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from the Jews, and in danger from the Gentiles. He often went without sleep, without food, and without water (2 Cor. 11:23-28). But he refused to stop peaching. He said, “I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16-17).
Peter says God doesn’t want “anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 [Peter 3:9). Are you spreading the word about Jesus?
Praise God: more than 700 Christians are now teaching thousands of people about Christ on the Internet. Some people are still teaching people through postal mail. May God bless you with sparkling stars in your heavenly crown.
We are grateful to those of you who support us with your prayers and gifts. God is using you to introduce large numbers of precious souls to Christ in every nation. To God be honor and glory forever.
—Dick & Maudine
