” Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it ” Matthew 10:39.
1999 January 23rd was a gloomy day and a day of challenge for every Christian. Around the world, the Gospel has most often taken root in places prepared by the blood of martyrs. Before people can give their lives for the Gospel, their desire to serve Christ is translated into the reality of serving others. One of the martyrs Dr.Graham Steward Staines an Australian Christian missionary served effectively with his wife Gladys Staines among the leprosy patients. He had been working especially with leprosy patients since 1965 for about 30years in India. He spoke fluent Oriya and helped the patients after they were cured. He used to teach them how to make mats, out of rope and baskets from Saboigrass and handweaving. On the night 22nd 1999, he had attended a jungle camp an annual gathering of Christians at Manoharpur. He was on his way to Keonjhar with his two sons Philip and Timothy who had come back on holiday from their school in Ooty. At night, owing to severe cold, they broke their journey to spend the night in Manoharpur and slept in their vehicle, Station Wagon. A mob of about 50 people led by Dhara Singh armed with axes and other weapons, attacked the vehicle, poured petrol and burnt Staines and his two innocent boys to death. In Acts 7, we see Stephen was an effective administrator and messenger before becoming a martyr. Christ calls us to a higher mission than to find comfort and tranquility in this life. To take our cross and follow Jesus means, to be willing to publicly identify with Him, to experience opposition and to be committed to face even death for His sake. In doing so, we will inherit eternal life and experience the benefits of following Christ. Unless a kernel of wheat is buried in the ground, it will not become a blade of wheat producing many more seeds. Jesus Christ had to die to pay the penalty for our sins and also to show His Power over Death. Would we be willing to die for Him? Are we willing to live for Him?
” Dear Lord, let me loosen my grasp on earthly things and be free to follow Christ. In doing so, let me inherit eternal life. In Jesus’Name I pray “.–Amen
KERNEL OF WHEAT
Advertisement
