You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. (Rom. 5:6)
Expanded Passage: Romans 5:6
Tina was a perfectionist and wanted to “get it right.” “It” was anything that she did, and when she became a Christian, she wanted to “get it right.” When Tina learned about Stephen, the first Christian martyr, along with modern martyrs, she became insecure and fearful. The question that plagued Tina was, “Would I die for Jesus?” Tina feared that she wasn’t a good Christian because she could not answer the question with an unhesitating “Yes!”
One day, in tears, Tina said, “I’m not brave like those martyrs.” I looked at Tina and said, “Perhaps God isn’t asking you, ‘Will you die for me?’ Maybe God is asking, ‘Will you live for me?’” I asked her, “Are you willing to live your best life for God and let people see that you belong to Jesus?” I reminded her that we live in the United States during a time when we are free to practice Christianity. However, this world is counter-cultural to God’s kingdom and living for him can be challenging. Are you willing to be alienated and ridiculed for Jesus?
Tina still struggles with perfectionism, but she now has peace about being a Christian because she does her best to live for Jesus. God loves us in our imperfection and most of us will not be called to die for Jesus, but we are all called to live for him.
Live for Christ—he died for you.
Angela Golden Bryan is a graduate of Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. She and her husband live in South Florida.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
