For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. Romans 1:16

 

Would you follow Jesus if it really cost you something?

In some countries, Jesus followers are in a very tiny minority. Growing up with faith in Jesus can be hard, very hard. A child may be the only Christian in his school and be cruelly singled out. Many Christian children attend camps each summer where they and their faith are embraced and nurtured.

At camp the kids learn scriptures like Romans 1:16: “I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…”  One summer, a pastor in the country imprisoned for his faith was coming to trial during the week of camp. The counselors had been praying for his release and shared briefly about the pastor’s situation. All prayed earnestly for his release and throughout the day the children asked about his release. But the next morning, the news was not good, and the pastor was sent back to prison.

The children’s lesson that day just happened to be about the Apostle Paul being arrested, beaten, held in prison and tried in Rome. The teacher put a big paper boat up on a wall, inviting the children to come forward to write their names on the boat, signifying their commitment to go wherever Jesus called them.

First, the younger children began to come quietly to write their names.  The teenagers followed.  Then the leaders.  All ended up standing in a circle singing, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.”

Most of those children’s parents were ministry workers—the children knew the cost of standing in the boat, with Jesus. It’s an amazing account that forces us to ask ourselves, “Would we stand, knowing the cost, like these young followers of Jesus?”