by Debra Weiss, RTF staff writer

I know Easter passed but I’m still thinking about the Resurrection and what it meant and still does mean. I happened upon this quote that I love….

Whoever reads the New Testament seriously, or gives thought to the impact which the apostles made upon their generation, must acknowledge that one outstanding historic event alone spurred that small band of 11 ordinary men to an amazing task of evangelization in their generation. Defying every obstacle, loss of home, persecution, even death itself, they evidenced the supreme relevance in their ministry of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. – Erling C. Olsen

This quote begs the question: Were are the ordinary Christians willing to evangelize others, even at the cost of all they hold dear, all they love?

What are we willing to give up, to sacrifice so that others may come to know His redeeming love?

In order to get the word out, to let others know what Jesus Christ had done in their lives, the apostles had to be willing to sacrifice, and not just anything but everything. Too many times we want to sacrifice smaller things, things that we won’t even miss. Is it any wonder Christians filled with plenty feel spiritually unfulfilled?

We want the best of both worlds. We want to say we made a sacrifice for the Lord but we don’t want to lose anything, either. We want to be armchair Christians, content to sit in our comfortable homes and debate the best ways to evangelize the world.

But true evangelizing must start with a sacrifice of self. Of all we hold dear, of all that ties us to this empty world, we must surrender.

Each Christian has different things to sacrifice. Spend some time with God today and ask him, “What’s holding me down to this world? What’s keeping me from ministering to others?”

Then wait…and listen.