A strange fact of history is that we Western Christians are the first in history to not suffer for the name of Jesus.
Maybe just as strange is that some of the world’s most popular ‘Christian speakers’ preach that we ought to be prosperous in health and wealth.
This seems so far from the first Christians who ‘rejoiced because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name’ (Acts 5:41).
And, of course, it seems so far from Jesus the Christ who suffered death on a cross, and said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me’ (Luke 9:23).
As we read Acts together today let’s encourage one another in the importance of teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the crucified and risen Christ, and that salvation is in him alone… whatever the cost might be, it’s worth it!
In Christ, Tory Cayzer.
Barwon District Anglican Churches 