Consider the grave sacrifice that Muslim-background believers make in surrendering to Jesus Christ

"It was the job that every 18-year old dreamt of: my first day in the international airline's Operations Room, a frenzy of activity. My new boss introduced me. Then from absolutely nowhere, a man said, "I hear you're a born again Christian: I give you three weeks!" Laughter rang out.

From then on, people demonstrated their distaste by practical jokes - and more - at having a Christian in their midst. Night after night I went home and poured out my heart and tears to the Lord.

How could doing the right thing produce such an adverse reaction?

No one had told me the real cost of becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. No one had told me the words of Jesus: "They persecuted me, they will persecute you!" No one had pointed me to 2 Timothy 3:12: "Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Of equal importance, no one had told me about the existence of a living, breathing Persecuted Church. I was grossly ill-prepared for the world that I was about to enter. Those three days became four years, and were instrumental, by God's grace, in making me into the man I am today. Twelve years learning how to live out my Christian faith in the crucible of business life helped to prepare me for the 25 years I have now been working for Christian organisations."

This is the testimony of the CEO of Open Doors UK.

Consider the grave sacrifice that Muslim-background believers make in surrendering to the lordship of Jesus Christ: being disenfranchised, excommunicated from family and support networks, literally becoming marked men and women, boys and girls - it must make us think!

As we make Christ supreme, our lifestyle will clash with the spirit of the age. Some will resent us - sometimes violently. You may therefore anticipate petty barbs or humiliating rejection. "In the world," said Jesus, "you will have tribulation; but take heart, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

How should Christians relate to the world? It is all too easy to confuse separation from sin with isolation from sinners. But Jesus does not call us to isolation. We must be in the world but not share its values.

This Christmas you may be the only Jesus that your friends and family will see. The baby who became a King invites us to take up our cross and follow Him (Mark 4:34-35) and it will cost us everything.