they sent judas called barsabbas, and silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter: “the brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the gentiles in antioch and syria and cilicia, greetings. ince we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved barnabas and paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. se have therefore sent judas and silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. [acts 15:22-27]
who have risked their lives
the troubled church –
troubled by those who believed Jesus wasn’t enough –
sought to bring clarity to the church –
through a letter from the leaders that said –
Jesus is enough.
and to that end, they sent respected leaders out to deliver this letter –
leaders who had risked their lives –
“for the name of Jesus.”
i am not sure of the last time i physically risked my life?
but i do know the Lord has my life –
and he has asked me to lay down my life –
“for the name of Jesus.”
i have been crucified with Christ. it is no longer i who live, but Christ who lives in me. and the life i now live in the flesh i live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [galatians 2:20]
because Christ laid down his life for you and i –
we have life.
and now, he calls us to lay down our lives –
“for the name of Jesus.”
what will it look like today to “no longer” live – but to live a life “crucified to Christ” who lives in you?
what will it look like to “live by faith” – risking your life – for the one who “loves” you?
today – your life is not your own.
it has been won by Jesus for God.
may you and i live – laying down our lives “for the name of Jesus.”
~ john ryan