"SACRIFICE"

"SACRIFICE"

Matthew 4:18-21                   (ESV)
"18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, HE saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
19 And HE said to them, "Follow ME, and I will make you fishers of men."
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed HIM."


Can you imagine working at your job one day, doing what you can to make a living, and someone walks up and says "Follow ME" and you walk away from your job, family, and lifestyle to follow after this person?   And for what?  For wealth and fame?  For status and notoriety?  There were twelve disciples called by JESUS to follow after HIM.  Of those twelve men and Paul, who was the most successful?  Who would have "ranked" in today's society?  Let's look at the fate of the ones who gave much to the LORD.

PETER and PAUL were BOTH MARTYRED in Rome about 66 AD, during the persecution under Emperor Nero. Paul was BEHEADED. Peter was CRUCIFIED, UPSIDE DOWN at his request, since he did not feel he was worthy to die in the same manner as his LORD.

ANDREW went to the "land of the man-eaters," in what is now the Soviet Union. Christians there claim him as the first to bring the gospel to their land. He also preached in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, and in Greece, where he is said to have been CRUCIFIED.

"Doubting" THOMAS was probably most active in the area east of Syria. Tradition has him preaching as far east as India, where the ancient Marthoma Christians revere him as their founder. They claim that he DIED there when PIERCED THROUGH with the SPEARS of four soldiers.

PHILIP possibly had a powerful ministry in Carthage in North Africa and then in Asia Minor, where he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. In retaliation the proconsul had Philip arrested and CRUELLY PUT TO DEATH.

MATTHEW the tax collector and writer of a Gospel, ministered in Persia and Ethiopia. Some of the oldest reports say he was not martyred, while others say he was STABBED TO DEATH in Ethiopia.

BARTHOLOMEW had widespread missionary travels attributed to him by tradition: to India with Thomas, back to Armenia, and also to Ethiopia and Southern Arabia. There are various accounts of how he met his death as a MARTYR for the GOSPEL.

JAMES the son of Alpheus, is one of at least three James referred to in the New Testament. There is some confusion as to which is which, but this James is reckoned to have ministered in Syria. The Jewish historian Josephus reported that he was STONED and then CLUBBED TO DEATH.

SIMON THE ZEALOT, so the story goes, ministered in Persia and was KILLED after refusing to sacrifice to the sun god.

MATTHIAS was the apostle chosen to replace Judas. Tradition sends him to Syria with Andrew and to DEATH BY BURNING.

JOHN is the ONLY ONE of the company generally thought to have died a NATURAL DEATH  from old age. He was the leader of the church in the Ephesus area and is said to have taken care of Mary the mother of Jesus in his home. During Domitian's persecution in the middle 90's, he was exiled to the island of Patmos. There he is credited with writing the last book of the New Testament--the Revelation. An early Latin tradition has him escaping unhurt after being CAST  into BOILING OIL at Rome.

Being a follower of JESUS CHRIST was not something to have on your resume' if you wanted to succeed in the business world!  The certain torment and violent future precluded most from applying for the position.  Yet in Matthew 4:20 scripture records that Peter and Andrew "immediately left their nets" to follow HIM!

Yet today, so called Christians complain when the air conditioning isn't cool enough on Sunday. When we are asked to give an extra $20 for a love offering, we consider it to be a SACRIFICE!  Maybe we are requested to give up a Sunday afternoon football game to minister to a needy family?  Folks, would modern day SACRIFICE even register on GOD's faithfulness meter?  Just something to consider today as you live for HIM!  SACRIFICE is all about FOLLOWING HIM!!!