And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:20
John Chrysostom was a preacher in the early church. Because of his witnessing for Christ, he was taken before the emperor, who informed him that he would be put in prison for his faith. Chrysostom answered that the Lord would go with him to prison.
Then the emperor threatened to take away all his possessions. Chrysostom was not bothered by this; he simply answered, “There is no way for you to take away all that I possess. My treasures are in heaven, and you cannot reach that far.”
Finally, the emperor said in consternation,”Tell, I will banish you to the remotest corner of the kingdom.” Calmly Chrysostom informed the emperor that the remotest spot in the world was part of his Savior’s kingdom and that his Lord would be there too.
God wants us to be people who are free from the necessity of certain places, people, and things so we may be unencumbered. Then he can trust us with more significant assignments. When we do not need anything but him, we truly become available for service. The gifts of God are merely blessings to be enjoyed; we must have one necessary attachment, and that is to our Lord Jesus.
This is an excerpt from a book This Day with the Master by Dennis Kinslaw. If you would like to buy this book please click here.