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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-4

What would your answer be if I asked, “Do you love Jesus?” If you are a Christian, you’d likely reply with a hearty, “Yes, of course!” You might be especially fired up about your answer having just celebrated Easter and the Lord’s victory over death. But sisters, the real question is, How much?

This makes me think of a bedtime ritual I had with my boys when they were little (and not so little). In saying goodnight, I would tell them I love them. The response from them would be, “I love you more!” And I’d reply, “That’s impossible! I love you to the moon!” They might respond, “But I love you to the end of the whole universe!” I’d say, “But I love you to the universe and BACK!” Finally, this back-and-forth would come to a close with them saying, “I love you to infinity!” My answer? It’s easy to figure out: “I love you to infinity and back again.”

How much do we love Jesus? Enough to tell the cashier, “God bless you” as we leave the checkout? Or do we love Him enough that when an unbelieving friend uses His name as a curse we respond, “I would appreciate if you don’t use the Lord’s name like that”? Do we love Him enough to share the Good News of His grace and mercy with a stranger we’ve just met…or, harder still, with a family member?

OK, let’s get really real here. Do we love our precious Lord and Savior enough to stand up for Him at work—not just when cursing is the normal vernacular, but when a task is given that goes against our Biblical beliefs (we’re told to lie or cheat a client, for instance)…could we refuse and risk getting fired? What about when the government is forcing an action (or non-action) that flies in the face of God’s teaching? What if it meant a significant fine? Prison?

What would you risk for Jesus? What would I risk?

My life? Well, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8), so it seems like I could answer affirmatively to that. But what about my child’s life?

According to the 2021 World Watch List reporting period, in the last year alone, over 340 million Christians live in places where they experience high levels of persecution and discrimination. Moreover, 4,761 Christians killed were for their faith, 4,488 churches and other Christian buildings were attacked, and 4,277 believers were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned (https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/)

(You never hear this on CNN, now do you?) I’m not going to say that this type of persecution will be in our country tomorrow…but I do not doubt that it’s coming. So, we each need to ask ourselves that question: Would we risk it all for Jesus?

“Lord, help me be bold for Jesus. No matter the cost.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life