Crestwood Baptist Church

What are you willing to lose your life for? Most westerners are shocked, offended, or ignore this question. However, to many in the New Testament and multitudes of Christ followers in other countries the question was and is a reality. Perhaps, honorable answers are as follows: family or country. Certainly most of us can quote John 3:16, but just as many cannot quote 1 John 3:16. It reads. "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." What a sobering call, but in light of John 3:16 how could we do less if the love of God truly dwells within us?

It reminds me of one mission trip to Russia. The trip coincided with terrorist attacks in that country. One day, I recall an older team member saying to me, "If they begin shooting, I want you to play dead. Then I will fall over you so they will kill me and not you." Wow, the love of God compelling this man to lay down his life! Many will never have the opportunity to be martyred, but we do have the challenge to lay our life down daily, giving preference to Christian brothers and sisters.

Another place in Scripture we are called to lose our life is Mark 8:34-35. It reads, "And He summoned the crowd with His disciples and said to them, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.'" What a paradox; the losers are the winners.

We have been called to lose our life for Christ and the gospel. No doubt, many Christ followers have literally lost their lives as they've chosen not to deny Christ while proclaiming the gospel.

Notice also, that if we lose our life for Christ and the gospel we really find what living is all about. Are you willing to give the life God gave you for the spreading of the gospel and for the fame of Christ? If we will lose our life in this purpose and pursuit, then we will truly be living and sharing life as it was meant to be. In this context, it's o.k. to be a loser because those who dare to lose their life for Christ's sake and the gospel really are the winners. Live for the sake of Christ and His gospel. Lose you life in this purpose.

Pastor Donnie

Have you had a vision checkup lately? Maybe we all need a visit to the Great Physician. Is your vision cloudy or confusing? Do you currently have double-vision and not sure which way to step or proceed? The Apostle Paul, through the corrective lens of Scripture helps us see clearly with a true 20/20 vision.

Acts 20:20 “…how I did not shrink back from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house,” 21 “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ.”

Paul was captured by this 20/20 vision. The vision moved him forward through any and all circumstances. His vision was to share the gospel and disciple those who believed. How sold-out was he? How successful was he? Acts 20:26-27 “Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men,” 27 “for I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.”

Paul did not shrink back from the vision. The Holy Spirit worked so mightily through him that the people in the region heard and saw a clear presentation of the gospel. Then, Paul was ready to move on to further carry out the vision. Acts 20:31 “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” 32 “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified...”

What would it look like if we were innocent of the blood of all men in Oldham and the surrounding counties because they heard and saw a clear presentation of the gospel through us? What would it look like if for three years we embraced a 20/20 vision? What would CBC look like if we rallied around this God-given vision? Lives would be transformed! The world around us would be transformed!

Read Acts 20:17-38 until you can see with 20/20 vision. Then, live it out.

“Transforming the world through transformed lives…”

Pastor Donnie