They Want to Follow

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” Matthew 16:24, NAS.

One Christian worker who has been proclaiming the Gospel among several Muslim people groups for the past 30 years noted that many people want to follow Jesus, but are afraid of persecution. He encourages them that the Gospel is not about another religion, but about salvation. Ultimately he warns that the choice to stand firm or fall away is up to them.

One man who wanted to follow Jesus told his wife about his desire. She immediately responded if you follow Jesus I’ll move out of the house. The man loved his wife and didn’t want to lose her, so he didn’t follow Jesus.

Another man committed to Christ and was given a Bible. When his wife found out, she burned the Bible. To this day she refuses to talk to the Christian worker who introduced her husband to Jesus.

Many people are willing to talk about religion, but when a decision is made to follow Jesus, then the persecution starts. People considering the Gospel have to consider the costs up front, because many of them will have to pay a heavy relational price tag to follow the Lord. However, the worker warns them that the cost of not following is also high, for without Christ there is no salvation.

Pray that:

The Muslim peoples with whom this worker is sharing will experience conviction of the Holy Spirit to stand with Jesus despite the costs.

This worker will not grow weary in sharing the Gospel in holiness and in the power of the Spirit of Christ.

Entire families will respond to the Gospel at the same time.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.