own lives to help them—whether in times of natural disaster, distress, or in defense of harm. First responders may need to take proper precautions, but they should also possess the courage and love for others required to act in order to preserve life. A minister is also a first responder and should be will - ing to lay hands on and anoint the sick, even in times of pestilence or plague. As James records in James 5:14-15: Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. Christ Himself set this example, for when a leper came to Him in Mat- thew 8:3: Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am will - ing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. God loves acts of faith and brav- ery—and He often rewards them. Truth and Love God wants His people to have such
a love for the truth that they are will- ing to die for it, rather than deny it. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 16:24-25: If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and who - ever loses his life for My sake will find it. Earlier in the Gospel of Matthew 10:32-33 He stated: Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. The apostles exposed themselves to constant peril surrendering their
lives to the cause of Christ and His Church. In a similar manner Chris- tians today ought to be willing to hazard their lives, and even lay them down, in defense of the truth. A martyr’s example is a power- ful and motivating tool used to strengthen the faith of others. Chris- tians cannot ignore, reject, or be ashamed of Christ’s teaching and His commandments or it will result in the loss of reward. Needs of Others The apostle John mentions a third way we can follow Christ’s example in I John 3:17: But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him. God, thru John, is directing His people’s attention to an important fact—laying down one’s life means being willing to make those compar- atively smaller sacrifices to relieve brethren in need. When the apostle mentions “this world’s goods” he is referring to those material things needed to sustain life—food, cloth- ing, and shelter. By sharing material blessings with others, Christians demonstrate their love for them. This is also true re-
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