What Does Serving Jesus Cost You?

     There is nothing that humbles me, or challenges me, or takes me to my knees like hearing about the Christians in China. Their commitment, dedication, and joy through tribulation shine as an amazing light on our, sometimes, superficial Christianity. Where is our depth? Why do we think our walk with God should be all about me? Many churches in America, no matter the size, are struggling with spiritually lazy members. Life and busyness has worn us out and we think we don't have anything else to give. We want to walk into church, sit down, and get blessed. Giving up time to study the Bible with fellow believers is something most aren’t willing to do. We don’t want to volunteer to work in the church because we can’t get everything else we want to do done, so why add something else? We want to be a part of a family, but not have any chores or responsibilities. Ministries of churches are declining because people aren’t serving. Who is going to teach the children?  As you think about your life as an American Christian, read the following words from a friend of Brittne’s who serves in China. 

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 “I am not sure that I can speak for all of China, but I will tell you how the local believers here will celebrate Sunday. As Easter draws near, there is a growing awareness of the ‘lostness’ around us by both local believers and workers on the field. Many believers are busy this week sharing the Good News and anticipating the celebration of Easter. This year, Easter falls on the same weekend as Qing Ming Festival.
Qing Ming Festival is known as "Tomb Sweeping" festival and is a 3 day holiday in which families gather to go to their ancestors graves, clean them, and offer sacrifices for their ancestor's needs to be met in the afterlife, and, in turn, for those sacrificing to be blessed. It is an extremely sad ritual that shows the bondage these people are in. As Believers celebrate the empty tomb, we are constantly reminded that people around us have dedicated their lives to tombs filled with bones that will never atone for their sins.
This Easter, many believers will choose not to go to their ancestors' graves, but rather join together in celebration of the Risen Lord. Faith families look different here than in many parts of the Western world. Believers normally meet in small house groups of roughly 10-15 people. In this particular area, many house groups will come together to celebrate Easter altogether in a park, here in the capital city of the province. This is both for local believers to be encouraged by each other and it opens the door to invite non believing friends.
In the park, believers will fellowship, sing, worship, and study the Book together. They will invite their friends and relatives who do not believe to come and hear about God. The celebration will last several hours and many will travel from miles around to come be with other believers.
This year I will be joining in the celebration at the park. It is always encouraging to be with the locals here as their faith is so real. The Lord always teaches me so much about trusting Him when I am with the locals. These people know what persecution is. They know what it's like to follow Him and not have your family's support, be ridiculed, mocked, and even threatened. The locals have great joy in the Lord and He constantly reminds me to come before Him with the same joy and trust Him completely."

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Again, this humbles me! We complain that God doesn’t love us if He doesn’t give us what we ask for, and these Christians serve Him even if they are persecuted by family, arrested, tortured, or killed. Many Christian churches in China are underground. Don’t feel too sorry for them though. They are strong in their faith and in their trust in God. Would it surprise you to know that they actually pray for the American Christians and our shallow, untested faith? We often say that we would be willing to die for Christ. However, are we willing to truly live for him?

Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just; He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.

2 Thessalonians 1: 4-7