"I"
Many years ago, not long after the Lord Jesus was crucified, there was very bitter hatred toward those who believed in Him. So great was this hatred, that Christians were often persecuted, tortured, and killed. If a person confessed with his mouth the Lord Jesus, he knew it might cost him his life. Yet many did confess Christ and suffered for it.
In those days a confession of Christ was real. One would not profess to be a Christian when he knew it meant suffering and perhaps death, unless he really loved the Lord.
But today, some people profess Christianity when they have not felt their need of a Saviour. Perhaps they do so to ease their consciences. Perhaps they want to join some church to please a friend,—or to make new friends. But that cannot save any one.
You must believe in your heart, dear reader, that God raised Jesus from the dead. This showed that God was satisfied with the sacrifice of His beloved Son, —with the atonement Jesus had made for your sins and mine. Now, Jesus having borne the punishment that you and I deserved, God can righteously forgive us and grant us eternal life.
In our day, we can be Christians without fear of bodily torture or death. But if we are faithful in confessing Christ to those about us, we will find plenty of people who will not want to have anything to do with us. We may lose some of our friends,—perhaps some we love very much; but the Lord's approval is worth the cost.
If you have felt your need of a Saviour, and love that One who first loved you,— if you believe in your heart that He died for your sins and was raised again for your justification,—be faithful in confessing Him to those about you, and seeking to bring them also, to this precious Saviour.
Messages of God’s Love 7/8/1928