I am a Jesus pusher!!! “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake” (Matthew 5:11). Jesus also said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25). It is in losing that I win; it is in dying that I live; it is in giving that I get; it is being a slave that I become free. How can I dread being like Him? “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!” (Matthew 10:25). Should not my concern be they do not call me “Beelzebub?” I must never fear being persecuted: I must fear not being persecuted.
A famous classical story is told of John Chrysostom. He was a saint in the fourth-century who preached so strongly against sin that he offended the ungodly Empress Eudoxia. Many of the church officials were also disturbed. John was bound and delivered before the Emporia Arcadius. His preaching was challenged and he was threatened with banishment if he did not cease. His response was, “Sir, you cannot banish me, for the world is my Father’s house.”
The Emperor cried, “Then I will slay you.”
John replied, “Nay, but you cannot, for my life is hid with Christ in God.”
“Your treasurers will be confiscated” was the next threat.
John replied, “Sir; that cannot be, either. My treasurers are in heaven, where none can break through and steal.”
“Then I will drive you from man, and you will have no friends left!” was the Emperors final, desperate warning.
“That you cannot do, either,” answered John, “for I have a Friend in heaven who has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’”
This is victory! I am a Jesus pusher!!!