Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you
an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
They asked, "Ben, what are you doing?"
He answered, "Packing."
"Why?" they asked.
"To go to heaven," he said.
In Ben's young mind, giving one's life to Christ was no small step. It meant the willingness to
leave his family and travel immediately to be with Christ.
Have we made the necessary sacrifices in order to follow Christ?
(1 Peter 2.21
NRSV)
Young Ben's family was quite active in a church that emphasizes a personal commitment to
Christ. Even though he was quite young, Ben had heard more than one sermon about the
importance of surrendering one's life to Christ. And so, one morning as the family sat around the
kitchen table eating Cheerios, little Ben announced that he, too, was ready to give his life to
Christ. He then got up from the table and went upstairs. His mother and father looked at each
other and then decided to follow Ben. They thought they might find him on his knees in prayer.
They didn't. Instead, they found him folding his Star Wars pajamas into his Sesame Street
suitcase.
Dear God, help me to make the necessary sacrifices in order to follow Jesus. Amen.
