The First Believers

We can be dedicated to living a life that reflects the power and presence of Christ in us. In Colossians 3, we can read about some of the dynamics of that surrendered life:
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him...

Because we have been saved, that means that we are now distinct from the world - and our former life. Some may not understand why we don't participate in what we once did.  But, we now have a higher calling: we are to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.  We may face opposition and outright hostility, but we can be diligent to do what He says, and to love even those who have become our enemies because of what Jesus has done in us. But, we can continue to abide in Him regardless.

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Jesus calls us to lay down our lives in order that we might experience His love and that we might be saved. We can read these words in Luke chapter 9:
23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.

Sela and her husband, Sok, are a couple in southeast Asia.  Year after year, they have observed the Muslim feast of Ramadan - as Baptist Press relates, "Ramadan has meant waking before the sun rises for prayer and a quick meal, then fasting all day until the sun sets again. Sela joined the other women to prepare food for the feast after sunset each day while Sok worshiped with the other men at the mosque."

But not this year.  Because, this year, they have pledged their lives to follow Jesus Christ - they are now Christians. The article relates: "They first heard of Jesus when Sela stumbled one morning and spilled a pot of boiling water over her baby. She had no one to call for help, because her village is hours away from the nearest city with a hospital."  But a missionary with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention was in place to help...

...Nancy Potter came to teach health care classes in the community, as she’d done for several years. Potter was able to rush Sela and her baby to a clinic where the burns could be treated. This clinic is run by Christian believers.

Sela and Sok were amazed that Christians would care for them. They continued talking with Nancy and her husband William in the months that followed. As they learned more about the Gospel, they began having dreams about Jesus. Soon they both put their faith in Christ.

Not only did they become believers, but they were the first Christian believers in their province. The article says:

The Potters have been working with local believers to engage this Muslim people group for approximately five years, and just this year are beginning to see outreach efforts bear fruit. They’ve been serving on the field for 22 years and moved to a more rural area about six years ago.

Now, the experience that Sela and Sok had is being replicated: "... two other families are regularly studying the Bible with the couple and the Potters."  This has helped to encourage those ministering in that community.  And, as the article states:

In one sense, the work has only just begun among this people group. Since Sela and Sok are the only believers in their province, discipling them and equipping them to share their faith is crucial, and something Nancy and her partners have already begun.

Persecution against them has already begun as well. Islamic leaders from the village have confronted Sela and Sok, and warned others in the community to stay away from them. It hasn’t dampened their faith, however.

“I don’t care what they say,” Sela said after the Islamic leaders visited. “I’m following Jesus.”

You may be the first believer - in your workplace, in your family, in your community.  Perhaps God has placed you there in order to not only rely on His strength, but to relate His love and faithfulness to others.  We may, like Elijah even after he saw a mighty demonstration of God's power, feel like we are alone. But, fact is, we are not alone.  God is with us, and we can depend on Him to manifest His presence and to bring people to walk with us. 

You know, someone has to go first.  And, we don't have to be afraid of doing something that has not been done before if we are sensing the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  If that is the case, we can know that God goes with us.  We've never done it this way before is not a valid excuse.  We can learn to recognize the unique call of God upon our lives. 

Just like this formerly Muslim couple, we can also be motivated to follow Jesus no matter what.  Jesus discussed the cost that every person has in following Him - we have to lay down our lives, to turn away from our old self, our old thought patterns, and our old ways, in order that we may experience His glorious presence.