Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and three others died 50 years ago. These missionaries were fully willing to die in order to reach a native tribe — and they did. Their story is told in the movies "The End of the Spear" and "Beyond the Gates of Splendor."

Are you willing to die for Jesus?

Is a willingness to die for Jesus really something taught in the New Testament? Let's look and see.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:11 NKJV)

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:19-21)

Some people doubt that we as Christians should suffer. However, the whole letter of 1 Peter anticipates this as a condition that Christians will face. Peter's concern was that during suffering, Christians show themselves to be like Christ.

For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:17)

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19)

We often consider suffering a huge mistake. We often feel like dying is a horrible waste. This is especially true if death happens early in life. This is still true even if the suffering or death were for the cause of Christ.

We often consider suffering a huge mistake.

Are you willing to die for Jesus? Are you willing to suffer physical persecution? Are you willing to suffer verbal persecution? Are you willing to be rejected? Are you willing to sacrifice your time for Jesus? Are you willing to be inconvenienced for Jesus?

If you say you're willing to die and really mean it, does that mean God will automatically call you to do that? No.

Does that mean that He will automatically call you to a foreign field in missions? No, not automatically, but I know He's looking for people to do that.

He may just call you to live for Him fully and boldly for Him right where you are. The key is that we are willing to answer His call no matter what it might involve or what it might cost.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?"
Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." (Isaiah 6:8)

Wild at Heart by John Eldredge Helping men rediscover their masculine heart, this is a guide to understanding Christian manhood and Christian men.

Mike is a pastor and writer for a number of online publications.

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